Bail bonds
When you are apprehended for a serious criminal offense, you will need to remain in jail while waiting for the bail hearing. At the bail hearing, the court will determine the amount of bail that will get you released. If you or a friend has the money available, then there's no problem. However, if you don't have any available funds, you are forced to stay in prison while waiting for your court hearing -- a scary prospect to contemplate. Luckily, there is a solution: You or a friend can seek assistance from a bondsman who can pay your bail to the court, to allow you temporary freedom.
But how can you get in touch with a bonding company ? That's where our site can help: We can help you locate a trusted and dependable bail bondsman in Todd County who can pay the necessary bail to allow you to get out of jail.
Why does a judge impose a bail bond ?
The legal system allows the services of a commercial bonding company to post a bail bond, also known as surety bond, to help a suspect gain temporary freedom while awaiting their court appearance.
The law allows two sorts of bail -- a criminal bail bond as well as a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a court does not impose a criminal bail bond to punish you for your alleged criminal offense. You are still innocent until proven guilty. Even so, the judge needs to have an assurance that you will appear at trial to face your accuser; hence, the need to post bail. If you participate in all your arranged criminal procedures as promised, and you are in the end found not guilty, the bail will be returned to you. In the case that you are condemned, the bail amount will be used to cover the penalties and fines that the judge may impose on you. If you miss the court hearings, your bail will be lost and you will be subject to arrest.
The same reasoning holds with civil bail bonds. The bail imposed on civil cases serves as an assurance or a surety that the defendant will have the ability to pay the fines and penalties that the judge may impose on the accused after the trial.
Should I hire a bail bondsman?
If you can afford to post bail on your own, you certainly don't need to employ the services of a bondsman. For one, they ask a small charge for their assistance, as well as the collateral you have to provide for what is certainly categorized as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bail bondsman will charge around 10-20% of the overall amount of the bail. You will not get this back even when you are cleared of the offense. On the upside, you do not have to worry about submitting the paperwork or need to deal with court staff because the bonding company will take care of everything for you. Secondly, you will have a better chance of having your bail petition accepted by virtue of the credibility and reputation of the bail bondsman alone. Third, due to their experience with the procedure, you can be released from jail in a matter of hours instead of days.
And finally, the bail bondsman understands the advantage of a good impression on the judge and jury. When you are transferred to the local or federal jail, you are going to be hauled to the courtroom in the official prisoner's jumpsuit. In contrast, if you made bail, you can dress smartly and ensure a good impression on the judge and jury.
How does the bail bond process work?
Choosing the right bail bondsman is important. Sadly, there are deceitful companies out there who exploit unsuspecting families that are already desperate for help.
Make sure you are ready when you talk to a bail bondsman. Ask all your questions, and only after all your worries are quelled should you take the next steps of employing them. They can then continue with posting the bail and filing the necessary paperwork to get you or a friend out.
What info do I need when getting in touch with a bonding company?
When calling a bondsman, make sure you have:
- The full name of the offender
- The name of the jail the defendant is incarcerated in
- The booking number
- The charges
- Any other relevant information you can think of
What is accepted as collateral?
In most cases, the bail bondsman will require collateral with the deal. This is understandable, taking into consideration the risks involved. An offender is a flight risk, and are countless occasions where a bonds company had to employ the services of 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 collateral for the bail. Below are a couple of examples:
- Realty
- Cars
- Equities
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
If you can't afford the bond right now, bonding companies often offer payment options that you can use. Simply speak with the bail bondsman to figure out which option is best suited in your situation.
You can use our website to find a bondsman that will be perfect for your needs. Many of them operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to assist you or a friend to spend the least amount of time in prison as possible.
