Bail bonds
One of the most scary situations you can end up in is inside a jail cell after you have been apprehended and charged with an supposed crime. Things might go wrong even further if you or your family have no cash available to post your bail , which will allow you get released from jail until your court hearing. In such a challenging moment, you first need to calm yourself, think clear, and go for the most helpful solution: Call a bail bondsman who can help a lot in getting you out of jail.
You are permitted at least one phone call following your arrest. Use that to connect with a loved one and ask him or her to connect with a bail bondsman. Your family member can use our website to look for a reliable bail bond agent in Florida who can then post the bail on your behalf to get you your freedom.
Why does a judge impose a bail bond ?
The judicial system allows the services of a bail bondsman to post a bail bond, also referred to as surety bond, to help a defendant get temporary freedom while waiting for their court appearance.
The judicial system allows two kinds of bail -- a criminal bail bond as well as a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a judge does not impose a criminal bail bond to punish you for your alleged crime. You are still innocent until proven guilty. Nevertheless, the judge needs a guarantee that you will appear at trial to face your accuser; therefore, the need to post bail. If you participate in all of your scheduled criminal proceedings as promised, and you are in the end found not guilty, the bail amount will be given back to you. If you are found guilty, the bail will be used to cover the penalties and fines that the court might impose on you. When you miss the court hearings, the bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to arrest.
The same reasoning applies with the civil bail bonds. The bail imposed on civil cases serves as an assurance or a surety that the offender will be able to pay the fines and penalties that the court may require from the accused after the trial.
Do I need to hire a bondsman?
If you are able to pay bail by yourself, you certainly don't need to have to employ the services of a bail bondsman. For one, they ask a small fee for their assistance, as well as the collateral you have to provide for what is certainly classified as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bondsman will collect about 10-20% of the overall amount of the bail bond. You will not get this refunded even if you are cleared of the offense. However, you don't need to bother with filing the necessary documents or dealing with court staff because the bail bondsman will handle all that . Besides that, you will have a better prospect of having your bail petition accepted by virtue of the reputation of the bail bondsman alone. Lastly, due to their familiarity with the procedure, you can be released from jail in a couple of hours.
Finally, the bondsman understands the benefit of a good impression while appearing in court. If you are transferred to the regional or federal prison, you are going to be hauled to the courthouse in the official prisoner's uniform. On the other hand, if you made bail, you are able to dress well and make a good first impression on the court.
How does the bail bond process work?
Finding a good bondsman is very important. Unfortunately, there are dishonest companies around who take advantage of unsuspecting families that are already desperate .
Make sure you are ready when you contact a bondsman. Ask all your questions, and only once all your worries are quelled should you take the next steps of employing their services. The bondsman can then continue with posting the bail and filing the necessary paperwork to get you or a family member released.
Information your bondsman needs to have
When you speak with a bondsman, you need to provide these details:
- Your full name if you are the defendant
- The name and location of the jailhouse where the accused is held
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The charges filed against the offender
- Any other important information
Will the bondsman need collateral ?
Whether or not a bondsman will want collateral for putting up bail differs between cases, however, it is typical in the industry. As for the type of collateral that is accepted, the list is just too long to mention all. But if a bondsman believes that something has value, it can be used as collateral. Below are just a couple of examples:
- House or land
- Vehicles, boats, yachts
- Jewelry or gemstones
- Shares, stocks or equities
- Bank accounts
- TV, appliances or other devices
- Antiques or art collections
- Farm equipment
And if available, you can also take advantage of payment plans provided by a bonding company.
When you or a friend are in danger of remaining in prison for a long time simply because you are not able to raise the amount, a bail bondsman is the only option that is left. On our site you can look for a bondsman in Florida. A lot of them are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
