Bail bonds
One of the most scary situations you can end up in is inside a prison after you have been arrested and charged with an alleged criminal offense. Things can go wrong even further if you or your loved ones have no money on hand to post your bail bond, which will allow you get released from jail until your court hearing. In such a challenging moment, you first have to relax yourself, think straight, and opt for the most helpful solution: Call a bail bondsman who can help a lot in getting you released from prison.
You are allowed at least one telephone call after your arrest. Use that telephone call to contact a loved one and ask him or her to connect with a bail bond agent. Your family member could visit our website to find a reputable bail bond agent in Santa Clara who can then post the bail in your place to secure your temporary freedom.
What is bail?
When you or a family member lands in jail, the first order of business is getting out of jail as soon as possible. Based on the number of cases, the judge may not have the opportunity to take your case for quite some time. All that time, you need to stay incarcerated unless you make bail.
There are several factors that may influence the amount of bail, and whether your case is bailable in the first place). For example, the court will take a look at your criminal record, the seriousness of the crime you are accused of, if you are a flight risk and if you can pay for the bail.
Why should I care about a bail bond?
Except if you are planning to remain in jail, you will have to make bail. However, very few people can afford it, which is why a bonding company is of utmost importance to anybody who wishes to await their trial outside of prison.
The exact amount of bail {will vary|depends on a lot of different factors. For instance, two persons who committed the same crime can have very different bail amounts. This is because the court will look into your financial situation, prior arrests, your roots in the area, and whether you are likely to run.
In most states, the cost of a bail bond is typically 10-20% of the total amount of bail, and this will not be refunded.
Additionally, the bonding company can help you navigate the complex judicial proceedings. It's easier to hire their services then to deal with the legal system on your own.
How the bail bonds process works
To start the bail bonds process, you first have to look for a bail agent. You can do that in person, over the phone and even via the internet. Given the stringent adherence to professionalism, a bail bondsman will gladly walk you through the bail procedure and straighten out any doubts that you may have.
Time is of the essence throughout this process. When the bail agent answered all of your concerns to your satisfaction, the bail agent will handle all of the formalities needed to get you or your loved one released from prison.
To make sure all goes smoothly, a bondsman needs to know the offender's name, birthdate, and the location or area of the arrest. With this information, the bail bondsman will be able to get extra information from the jail system needed to secure the release. After dealing with all the formalities, the bail bondsman will go over to the jail to get the accused released.
Using a bonding company to bail out yourself or somebody you love is that straightforward, you can be out of jail and reunited with your loved ones in a few hours.
Preparing to meet with a bondsman?
You need to have the following information on hand when talking to the bail bondsman:
- The suspect's full name
- The prison, city, and county where the accused is held
- The defendant's booking number
- The charges the offender is facing
- The amount of money of the bail bond
What is accepted as collateral?
Almost always, the bondsman requires collateral with the deal. This is understandable, considering the risks that are involved. An inmate is a flight risk, and are plenty of occasions where a bonding company needed to employ a bounty hunter to bring back the fleeing defendant.
But what is acceptable as collateral? In a nut-shell, when a bondsman considers an asset valuable, you are able to use it as a guarantee for the bail bond. Below are a few examples:
- Realty
- Automobiles
- Shares
- Jewelry
- Electronic devices
- Bank accounts
- Visa or mastercard
If you can't afford the bail bond right now, bonding companies usually have payment options that you can make use of. Just talk to the bondsman to determine what option is the best one when it comes to your situation.
You can use our site to find a bondsman that is perfect for your needs. Many of them operate 24x7, ready to help you or your loved one to spend the least amount of time in prison as possible.
