Bail bonds
When a person is jailed and taken into custody for a severe criminal offense, they must wait in jail until a bail hearing. It is during this bail hearing that the judge sets the bail amount. If that person can't raise the amount of money, they need to stay in prison until their court date. But that does not always need to be the case; they can also seek the services of a bondsman.
Unfortunately, many people wind up staying in prison until their court appearance due to the fact that a lot of do not have a large sum of money sitting around in the bank.
Our site will help you with bailing out your loved ones by connecting you to reputable and affordable bail bond agents in Dauphin County.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after getting arrested
The law allows a bondsman to post a bail bond, also called surety bond, to help persons arrested and charged with a criminal offense get temporary freedom while waiting for their trial.
The judicial system allows two types of bail -- a criminal bail bond as well as a civil bail bond.
To be clear, a court does not require a criminal bail bond to penalize you for your supposed crime. You are still presumed innocent up until proven guilty. That being said, the judge requires a guarantee that you will show up in court to face your accuser; therefore, the need to post bail. If you show up at all of your arranged criminal procedures as promised, and you are eventually acquitted, the bail amount will be given back to you. If you are condemned, the bail amount will be used to take care of the penalties and fines that the court might enforce on you. If you miss the court hearings, the bail will be lost and you will be subject to getting arrested.
However, the civil bail bonds imposed on civil cases function as an assurance or a surety with the court where the financial obligations, claims, and charges enforced on the accused can be taken from.
Why do I require a bail bond?
Utilizing a bail bondsman is one of the most economical ways of getting out of jail. In most states, the rate for a bail bond is 10% of the bail amount, which offers you an economical chance to get released from jail. So if you are trying to bail someone out, your very first factor to consider must be to locate a bondsman in your city.
Another reason you need to consider using a bonding company is the simple fact that they simplify the infamous and equally complex judicial process. You get in touch with the bail agent, provide some essential information about yourself or the person you want to bail out, and they will post the bail on your behalf. Before you know it, you are free and enjoying an evening meal with your loved ones.
We all understand first impressions are the most lasting, so it probably is a very good idea to appear before a judge as a trustworthy member of the community in civilian clothes, instead of showing up in a jail jumpsuit. A bail bondsman gives you the chance to dress the part and show the judge the opposite side of you.
How does the bail bond process work?
Finding the right bail agent is very important. Unfortunately, there are dishonest businesses out there that exploit unsuspecting people who are already desperate .
So be prepared when you get in touch with a bail bondsman. Ask all your questions, and only after all your questions are answered should you continue with the subsequent steps of employing them. They can then start with posting the bail and filing the necessary papers to get you or a family member out.
What your bail bondsman needs from you
When you or a family member connect with a bail bondsman, the latter will ask the following questions:
- The full name of the defendant
- The name and location of the jailhouse where the defendant is detained
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The charges filed against the offender
- Any extra important info
Will the bondsman require collateral ?
If a bondsman will want collateral for providing bail differs between cases, however, it is a common practice in the business. Regarding the sort of collateral that is accepted, the list is just way too long to mention all. But if a bondsman believes that an item is valueable, it could be used as collateral. Below are just a couple of examples:
- Real estate or property
- Vehicles, boats, yachts
- Jewelry or gemstones
- Shares, stocks or equities
- Bank accounts
- TV, appliances or gadgets
- Antiques or art collections
- Farm equipment
And when available, you could also make use of payment plans offered by a bondsman.
If you or your loved ones are in danger of remaining in prison for quite some time because you can not raise the amount, a bail bondsman is the only option that is left. On our website you can search for a bonding company in Dauphin County. A lot of them are open for business 24x7.
