Bail bonds
Essentially, a bail bond is a kind of guarantee that you will show up at the hearing at the specified date. In return, you are allowed to walk free despite the fact that you are still awaiting trial for a criminal or civil charge. Otherwise, you will remain prison while waiting for the court to rule on either acquittal or conviction. A bondsman can put up bail for you and get you out of prison.
Depending upon the charge, the amount of bail could be steep. Few defendants can pay the bond. Certainly there's a reason why the penal system is overburdened. But there's a legal way to earn your temporary release from prison even when your lawsuit is still in progress. Using our site you can locate a reliable bail bondsman in Mercer County.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after an arrest
The law allows a bail bondsman to post a bail bond, also referred to as surety bond, to help persons arrested and accused of a criminal offense get temporarily released from prison while awaiting their court hearing.
The judicial system allows two types of bail -- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
To be clear, a judge does not impose a criminal bail bond to punish you for your supposed crime. You are still presumed innocent up until proven guilty. That being said, 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 required, and you are eventually found not guilty, the bail will be returned to you. If you are condemned, the bail will be used to pay for the penalties and fines that the judge might impose on you. When you skip the court hearings, the bail will be lost and you will be subject to arrest.
On the other hand, the civil bail bonds enforced on civil cases serve as an assurance or a surety with the court where the financial obligations, claims, and charges enforced on the offender can be drawn from.
Why should I care about bail?
Unless you want to stay in prison, you need to make bail. However, not many individuals can come up with the money, which is why a bondsman is vital to anyone who wishes to await their trial outside of prison.
The amount of bail {will vary|depends on a lot of different aspects. As an example, two individuals who committed the same crime can have very different bails set. This is because the judge will take into consideration your financial situation, previous arrests, your family ties to the community, and whether or not you are a flight risk.
In almost all states, the cost of a bail bond is typically 10-20% of the total bail amount, and you will not get this back.
In addition, the bail bondsman can assist you maneuver around the complex judicial proceedings. It's easier to employ a bail bondsman then to deal with the court by yourself.
How the bail bonds process works
To begin the bail bonds process, you first need to search for a bail agent. You can do that in person, over the phone and even online. Given the strict adherence to professionalism, a bail bondsman will gladly walk you through the bail bond process and iron out any doubts that you might have.
Time is of the essence throughout this procedure. As soon as the bail agent answered all of your questions to your satisfaction, the bail bondsman will handle all of the formalities required to get you or your loved one released from prison.
To make sure all goes well, a bail bondsman needs to know the defendant's name, birthdate, and the location or area of the arrest. With this info, the bondsman will have the ability to get extra details from the jail system needed to secure the release. After handling all the procedures, the bondsman will visit the prison to get the offender released.
Utilizing a bail bondsman to bail out yourself or someone you love is that simple, you can be out of jail and reunited with your loved ones in a matter of hours.
What info does a bonding company need?
When you contact a bondsman, they will ask for:
- The full name and age of the defendant
- The location where the defendant is locked up
- The booking reference number and the charge
What does a bail bondsman accept as collateral?
Not everybody will have the cash lying around to pay a bonding company, but that does not mean you can not utilize one to get yourself or another person out of jail. If you do not have enough cash, you can also put up a few of your assets as collateral. Some items usually accepted as collateral are:
- Real estate
- Vehicles
- Credit cards
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Jewelry
- Personal credit
- Bank accounts
In addition, most bail bondsmen will also offer you with the option for a payment plan that you can afford and does not add more pressure throughout these trying times.
The bail bonds process can be confusing and every bit as wearisome, but the good news is that many bondsmen are ready to help you 24×7. With our site you can locate a reliable bail bondsman in Mercer County. They will be more than delighted to help you get you or your loved one from prison!
