Bail bonds
When a person is incarcerated and charged for a severe crime, they should wait in jail up until a bail hearing. It is during this bail hearing that the judge sets the bail amount. If that individual can't raise the amount of money, they have to remain in jail until their court date. But that does not always have to be the case; they can also look for the help of a bail bondsman.
Sadly, most people end up staying in jail until their court date since a lot of do not have a large sum of cash available in the bank.
Our website will help you with bailing out your loved ones by connecting you to trustworthy and budget-friendly bail bond agents in Elk County.
Why does a judge impose bail ?
The law allows the services of a bondsman to post a bail bond, also known as surety bond, to help a defendant gain temporary freedom while waiting for their trial.
The legal system allows two types of bail bond-- 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 supposed criminal offense. You are still innocent till proven guilty. Having said that, the court needs a guarantee that you will show up at trial to face your accuser; therefore, the need to post bail. If you participate in all of your arranged criminal proceedings as promised, and you are eventually found not guilty, the bail will be repaid to you. In the case that you are condemned, the bail money will be used to pay for the fines and penalties that the court may enforce on you. When you miss the court appearances, your bail will be lost and you will be subject to arrest.
The same reasoning applies to civil bail bonds. The bail enforced on civil cases functions as a guarantee or a surety that the accused will be able to pay the fines and penalties that the court may require from the accused after the trial.
Why should I care about bail?
Unless you are planning to remain in jail, you need to make bail. Unfortunately, very few people can afford it, which is why a bondsman is very important to anyone who wants to wait for their trial outside of prison.
The exact amount of bail {will vary|depends on a lot of different factors. For example, two persons who committed the same crime can have very different amounts of bail. This can happen because the court will take into consideration your financial situation, prior arrests, your roots in the community, and whether you are likely to run.
In almost all states, the cost of a bail bond is typically 10-20% of the total amount of bail, and this is non-refundable.
Also, the bail bondsman can assist you with the complicated judicial proceedings. It's more convenient to employ a bondsman then to deal with the court by yourself.
How does the bail bond process work?
Finding a good bonding company is important. Unfortunately, there are shady agents around that prey on unsuspicious families that are already desperate for help.
Make sure you are ready when you speak with a bondsman. Ask all questions you might have, and only once all your worries are quelled should you continue with the next steps of employing their services. The bail bondsman can then continue with posting the bail and submitting the required papers to get you or a friend released.
What info do I need when getting in touch with a bondsman?
When getting in touch with a bondsman, ensure you have:
- The full name of the offender
- The name of the prison the offender is jailed in
- The booking number
- The charges
- Any other relevant information you can think of
Collateral that a bondsman can accept
Your lack of immediate money is the main reason why you are seeking the help of a bail bondsman. The latter will offer to provide your bail in return for you putting one or some of your assets up as collateral. These assets include:
- Bank accounts
- Realty
- Shares
- Visa or mastercard
- Private credit
- Jewelry
- Vehicles
- Bonds
Expect the bondsman to propose you a reasonable repayment plan that you can afford. During this difficult time in your life, the bondsman can help alleviate your worries and simplify the bail bonds process for you. Most {bondsmen can be contacted|bonding companies are open for business 24/7. Using our site you can find a credible bail bondsman in Elk County that will support you in securing your freedom once again.
