Bail bonds
When an individual is put behind bars and booked for a serious criminal offense, they should wait in jail up until a bail hearing. It is at this bail hearing that the judge sets the bail . If that person can't raise the amount, they have to stay in jail until their court hearing. However that does not always have to hold true; they can also seek the services of a bail bondsman.
Sadly, most people end up remaining in prison until their court appearance because most do not have a large amount of cash sitting around in the bank.
Our site will help you with bailing out your loved ones by connecting you to credible and inexpensive bail bond agents in Berkshire County.
Why does a judge impose a bail bond ?
The judicial system permits the services of a commercial bonding company to post a bail bond, also called surety bond, to help an accused get temporary freedom while awaiting their court hearing.
The law allows two sorts of bail -- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a court does not impose a criminal bail bond to penalize you for your supposed crime. You are still innocent till proven guilty. Having said that, the court needs to have a guarantee that you will show up in court to face your accuser; thus, the need to post bail. If you participate in all your scheduled criminal proceedings as promised, and you are in the end acquitted, the bail will be given back to you. In the case that you are condemned, the bail money will be used to pay for the penalties and fines that the judge may enforce on you. If you skip the court appearances, your 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 functions as an assurance or a surety that the accused will have the ability to pay the penalties and fines that the judge might impose on the accused after the trial.
How helpful is a bail bond?
A bonding company is your best opportunity to not spend considerable time in prison when you don't have enough cash available to post your bail. A bonding company typically asks for a non-refundable rate of 10% of the bail amount. That is no more than reasonable, taking into account the risk the bondsman is taking in providing the bail bond. In any case, the most pressing concern is to get you out of prison, and for that need to search for a dependable bonding company in your area.
A deal with a bonding company is also helpful due to the fact that the latter will help with your release from prison, simplifying a difficult judicial procedure. You can just call a bondsman who will provide you a deal and request you to provide the relevant info about yourself, or a person you would like to bail out of jail. When you accept the contract, you can simply sit tight and wait for the bondsman to post the bail for you.
Obviously you still need to be at your hearing. However, now that you're free on bail, you can show up in court in civilian clothes. When you had remained in prison because you could not post bail, you would have shown up in court in a jail uniform-- and that's not a pretty sight to see. A bondsman allows you to make a respectable appearance before the judge, which matters a lot because first impressions count.
How does the bail bond process work?
Choosing the right bondsman is very important. Sadly, there are shady businesses around who exploit unsuspicious people who are already desperate .
So be prepared when you talk to a bondsman. Ask all questions you might have, and only once all your questions are answered should you take the subsequent steps of hiring their services. The bondsman can then proceed with paying the bail and filing the necessary papers to get you or a friend released.
Information your bondsman needs to know
If you contact a bail bondsman, you need to provide these details:
- Your full name if you are the suspect
- The name and location of the jailhouse where the accused is detained
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The complaints filed against the suspect
- Any other important details
What does a bondsman accept as collateral?
Not everybody will have the cash lying around to pay a bondsman, but that does not mean you can not use one to get yourself or someone else out of prison. If you don't have sufficient money, you can also put up a few of your assets as collateral. Some things typically accepted as collateral are:
- Realty
- Cars and trucks
- Credit cards
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Jewelry
- Personal credit
- Bank accounts
Moreover, most bail bondsmen will also offer you with the possibility for a payment plan that is within your budget and does not add more stress throughout these difficult times.
The bail bonds procedure can be complicated and equally wearisome, however the good news is that most bonding companies are ready to support you 24×7. Using our website you can search for a reputable bonding company in Berkshire County. They will be more than delighted to help you secure you or your loved one from jail!
