Bail bonds
When you are detained for a serious crime, you have to remain in jail while waiting for the bail hearing. During the bail hearing, the court will determine the bail amount that will give you temporary freedom. If you or a friend has the money available, then everything is fine. However, if you don't have any available funds, you will be forced to remain behind bars while waiting for your court hearing -- a scary thing to consider. Luckily, there is a way out of your predicament: You or your family can get help from a bondsman that can post your bail to the court, get you released from prison.
But how do you get in touch with a bonding company ? That's where this website can help: We can help you find a trusted and reliable bail bond agent in Muhlenberg County who can put up the required bail to allow you to leave prison.
Why does a judge impose a bail bond ?
The law permits the services of a 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 law allows two kinds of bail bond-- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
To be clear, a judge does not require a criminal bail bond to punish you for your alleged criminal offense. You are still innocent until proven guilty. That being said, the judge needs an assurance that you will show up in court to face your accuser; thus, the requirement to post bail. If you show up at all of your scheduled criminal procedures as promised, and you are eventually acquitted, the bail amount will be repaid to you. In the case that you are condemned, the bail money will be used to cover the penalties and fines that the court may enforce on you. If you skip the court appearances, the bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to arrest.
The same reasoning holds with civil bail bonds. The bail enforced on civil cases serves as a guarantee or a surety that the suspect will have the ability to pay the penalties and fines that the court may impose on the offender after the trial.
Why should I care about a bail bond?
Except if you want to remain in jail, you have to make bail. However, very few people can afford it, which is why a bondsman is very important to anybody who wants to await their trial out of jail.
The exact amount of bail {will vary|depends on a lot of different aspects. As an example, two persons who committed the same criminal offense can have very different bail amounts. This can happen because the court will look into your financial situation, previous arrests, your roots in the area, and whether or not you pose a flight risk.
In most states, the rate charged by the bail bondsman is usually 10-20% of the overall amount of bail, and you will not get this back.
Also, the bondsman can assist you maneuver around the complicated judicial proceedings. It's more convenient to employ their services then to deal with the legal system by yourself.
How does the bail bond process work?
Choosing the right bonding company is very important. Sadly, there are dishonest agents out there who prey on unwary families who are already desperate .
Make sure you are ready when you contact a bondsman. Ask all your questions, and only after all your questions are answered should you continue with the subsequent steps of hiring their services. They can then start with posting the bail and filing the necessary paperwork to get you or a family member out.
Information your bail bondsman needs to have
When you contact a bonding company, you have to provide these details:
- Your name if you are the accused
- The name and location of the jailhouse where the suspect is held
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The complaints filed against the suspect
- Any other important details
What is accepted as collateral?
Almost always, the bonding company will require collateral with the transaction. This is reasonable taking into account the risks involved. An offender is a possible flight risk, and there have been numerous examples where a bondsman had to hire a bounty hunter to bring back the fleeing offender.
But what is accepted as collateral? Essentially, if a bonding company considers an asset valuable, you can use it as a guarantee for the bail. Listed below are a few examples:
- Real estate
- Autos
- Equities
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Bank accounts
- Visa or mastercard
If you have trouble paying for the bail bond, bonding companies usually offer payment plans that you can use. Simply speak with the bondsman to figure out which option is the best one with regard to your situation.
You can use our site to find a bail bondsman that is perfect for you. Many of them operate day and night, ready to help you or a friend to spend the least amount of time in jail as possible.
