Bail bonds
If you have been arrested for a major criminal offense, you need to stay in prison while awaiting the bail hearing. At the bail hearing, the judge will decide the amount of bail that will get you released. If you or your family can quickly raise the money, then everything is fine. However, if you don't have any funds available, you are forced to remain in jail while awaiting your court hearing -- a scary prospect to contemplate. Luckily, there is a way out of your predicament: You or a friend can look for assistance from a bondsman who can post your bail to the court, to allow you temporary freedom.
But how can you get in touch with a bondsman ? That's where this site can help: We can help you find a trustworthy and dependable bail bond agent in Cole County who can put up the required bail to allow you to get out of jail.
What exactly is a bail bond?
A bail bond is a surety bond that is provided by a bonding company to help with the release of a detained individual so they can await their court date outside of prison.
There are two 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 offender appears during the trial and at the same time guarantees that the defendant will pay the fines and penalties required by the court.
Civil bail bonds are for civil cases. These use surety on the debts, interests, and expenses imposed on the accused.
Should I hire a bondsman?
If you are able to post bail on your own, you don't need to work with a bail bondsman. For one, they ask a charge for their service, in addition to the collateral you need to provide for what is definitely categorized as a loan.
In almost all states, the bail bondsman will collect about 10-20% of the overall amount of the bond. You can't get this money back even when you are cleared of the crime. On the upside, you do not have to stress over submitting the necessary documents or dealing with court personnel because the bonding company will take care of all that . Second, you will have a better prospect of having your bail application accepted because of the reputation of the bondsman alone. Lastly, because of their experience with the procedure, you can be released from prison in a couple of hours.
And finally, the bonding company recognizes the benefit of a good first impression on the judge and jury. When you are committed to the regional or federal jail, you are going to be hauled to court in the official prisoner's jumpsuit. In contrast, when you made bail, you can dress well and ensure a good impression on the judge and jury.
How does the bail bond process work?
Finding a good bonding company is important. Sadly, there are shady businesses around that prey on unsuspecting people who are already desperate for help.
So be prepared when you talk to a bonding company. Ask all questions you might have, and only after all your questions are answered should you continue with the subsequent steps of employing them. The bonding company can then start with paying the bail and submitting the necessary paperwork to get you or a family member released from jail.
Information your bondsman needs to have
When you speak with a bonding company, you have to provide the following details:
- Your full name if you are the defendant
- The name and location of the prison where the suspect is detained
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The charges filed against the defendant
- Any other relevant info
What is accepted as collateral?
In most cases, the bail bondsman requires collateral with the deal. This is reasonable considering the risks involved. A prisoner is a flight risk, and there have been many examples where a bonding company needed to employ a bounty hunter to recover the fleeing defendant.
But what is accepted as collateral? Basically, if a bail bondsman considers something valuable, you are able to use it as collateral for the bail bond. Below are a number of examples:
- Realty
- Cars
- Equities
- Jewelry
- Electronic devices
- Bank accounts
- Visa or mastercard
If you find that the bond is too expensive, bail bonds companies usually offer payment options that you can make use of. Simply talk to the bondsman to figure out what option is the best one in your circumstances.
You can use our site to look for a bondsman that is perfect for you. Almost all of them operate 24/7, ready to help you or a friend to spend the least amount of time in jail as possible.
