Bail bonds
One of the most scary situations you can end up in is inside a prison after you have been apprehended and charged with an alleged criminal offense. Things could go south even more when you or your loved ones have no cash available to post your bail , which will allow you temporary freedom. During such a difficult situation, you first need to calm yourself, think straight, and choose the most effective solution: Get in touch with 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 phone call to contact a loved one and request that person to reach out to a bail bondsman. Your family member can use our site to find a trustworthy bail bond agent in Crawford County who can then post the bail on your behalf to get you your temporary freedom.
Exactly what is a bail bond?
A bail bond is a surety bond that is offered by a bonding company to help secure the release of a detained individual so they can await their court hearing outside of jail.
There are 2 types of bail bond, namely a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
A criminal bail bond comes into play in criminal cases. It guarantees that the accused appears during the course of the trial and at the same time ensures that the offender will pay the fines and penalties required by the court.
Civil bail bonds are for civil cases. These offer surety on the financial obligations, interests, and costs imposed on the defendant.
Do I need to hire a bail bondsman?
When you can afford to post bail on your own, you don't have to employ the services of a bonding company. For one, they ask a small charge for their service, as well as the collateral you have to provide for what is certainly categorized as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bondsman will charge about 10-20% of the total amount of the bail. You will not get this back even if you are cleared of the crime. On the upside, you don't have to worry about filing the paperwork or dealing with court staff since the bondsman will handle everything for you. Secondly, you will have a better chance of getting your bail request approved because of the credibility and reputation of the bail bondsman alone. Third, due to their experience with the process, you can be released from prison in a matter of hours instead of days.
Lastly, the bondsman understands the value of a good impression on the judge and jury. If you are committed to the regional or federal prison, you will be transported to the courtroom in the official inmate's uniform. On the other hand, when you made bail, you can dress smartly and make a good impression on the judge and jury.
Here's how the bail bonds process works
In the event that you get arrested and accused of a supposed crime, the very first thing that you need to do is to get in touch with a attorney and somebody, possibly even the lawyer himself, who can hook you up with a bail agent to begin the bail bonds process. You or your representative can deal with the bail bondsman who is going to ask you common questions like the defendant's name, birthdate, and the place or city where the arrest was made. The bail bondsman will then give you an agreement for posting your bail . When you agree with the arrangement, the bail bondsman will take care of all the procedures to secure your release. With help from the bondsman, you can leave prison and be in the c ompany of your family once again.
What information do I need when getting in touch with a bondsman?
When contacting a bonding company, make certain you know:
- The full name of the defendant
- The name of the prison the accused is jailed in
- The booking number
- The charges
- Any other relevant info you can think of
What is accepted as collateral?
In most cases, the bondsman will require collateral with the deal. This is understandable, taking into account the risks involved. An inmate is a possible flight risk, and are many examples where a bonding company had to employ the services of a bounty hunter to recover the fleeing offender.
But what is acceptable as collateral? Basically, when a bondsman considers something valuable, you are able to use it as collateral for the bail. Below are a couple of examples:
- Real estate
- Cars
- Stocks
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
If you can't afford the bail bond right now, bail bonds companies often offer payment options that you can use. Just talk to the bail bondsman to figure out which option is best suited for your situation.
You can use our site to find a bail bondsman that will be perfect for you. Almost all of them are open 24/7, ready to help you or a friend to spend the least amount of time in jail as possible.
