Bail bonds
If you have been arrested for a major criminal offense, you must stay in jail while awaiting the bail hearing. During the bail hearing, the court will determine the bail amount that will give you temporary freedom. If you or a friend can quickly raise the money, then there's no problem. However, if you don't have any available funds, you are forced to stay in prison while awaiting your court hearing -- a scary thing to contemplate. Thankfully, there is a way out of your predicament: You or your family can get help from a bail bondsman that can put up your bail to the court, to allow you temporary freedom.
But how do you contact a bail bond agent ? That's where our site can assist you: We can help you search for a reputable and dependable bail bondsman in Custer County who can post the required bail to allow you to get released from jail.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after getting arrested
The legal system allows a bondsman to post a bail bond, also called surety bond, to help individuals arrested and accused of a criminal offense get temporary freedom while awaiting their court appearance.
The judicial system allows two sorts of bail bond-- a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.
To make it clear, a court does not require a criminal bail bond to punish you for your alleged criminal offense. You are still innocent until proven guilty. However, the judge needs to have a guarantee that you will show up in court to face your accuser; hence, the requirement to post bail. If you participate in all of your scheduled criminal procedures as promised, and you are eventually found not guilty, the bail will be returned to you. In case you are condemned, the bail money will be used to take care of the fines and penalties that the judge might impose on you. When you miss the court appearances, the bail will be lost and you will be subject to getting arrested.
However, the civil bail bonds imposed on civil cases function as a guarantee or a surety with the court where the financial obligations, interests, and charges imposed on the accused can be paid from.
Should I hire a bondsman?
When you are able to pay bail on your own, you don't need to work with a bonding company. For one, they require a small charge for their assistance, not to mention the collateral you have to provide for what is undoubtedly categorized as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bonding company will collect about 10-20% of the total amount of the bond. You will not get this refunded even if you are cleared of the offense. However, you don't need to worry about filing the necessary documents or have to deal with court staff since the bondsman will handle all that . Secondly, you will have a better chance of having your bail request approved because of the credibility and reputation of the bail bondsman alone. Third, as a result of their experience with the procedure, you can possibly be out of prison in a couple of hours.
Finally, the bonding company recognizes the importance of a good impression on the judge and jury. When you are committed to the regional or federal jail, you are going to be transported to the courtroom in the official prisoner's jumpsuit. In contrast, when you made bail, you can dress smartly and ensure a good first impression on the judge and jury.
How does the bail bond process work?
Finding a good bondsman is important. Unfortunately, there are dishonest individuals around who exploit unsuspecting people that are already desperate .
So be prepared when you contact a bondsman. Ask all your questions, and only once all your questions are answered should you take the next steps of hiring their services. They can then continue with posting the bail and submitting the necessary papers to get you or a friend released from prison.
What information does a bail bondsman need?
When you contact a bail bondsman, they will ask for:
- The full name and age of the defendant
- The prison where the defendant is held
- The booking reference number and the charges
What is accepted as collateral?
Almost always, the bonding company will require collateral with the deal. This is understandable, considering the risks that are involved. An offender is a flight risk, and there have been countless occasions where a bonds company had to hire a bounty hunter to recover the fleeing suspect.
But what is acceptable as collateral? Essentially, when a bonding company considers an asset valuable, you can use it as a guarantee for the bond. Below are a some examples:
- Realty
- Cars
- Equities
- Jewelry
- Electronic devices
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
If you can't afford the bond right now, bail bonds companies usually offer payment plans that you can use. Just speak with the bondsman to determine which option is the best one in your circumstances.
You can use our site to look for a bail bondsman that will be perfect for your needs. Most 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 jail as possible.
