Bail bonds
One of the most scary situations you can end up in is inside a prison after you have been apprehended and charged with an alleged crime. Things might go south even more when you or your family have no cash available to post your bail bond, which will allow you get released from jail until your court hearing. During such a challenging moment, you first need to relax yourself, think clear, and go for the most effective solution: Contact a bail bondsman who can really help a lot in getting you released from jail.
You are permitted at least one phone call after your arrest. Use that to get in touch with a loved one and ask that person to reach out to a bail bond agent. Your family member can use our site to find a trustworthy bail bondsman in Essex County who can then post the required bail in your place to secure your freedom.
Use a bail bond to gain temporary freedom after getting arrested
The judicial system allows a bondsman to post a bail bond, also referred to as surety bond, to help those apprehended and charged with a criminal offense get temporarily released from prison while awaiting their court appearance.
The law allows two types of bail bond-- 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 alleged crime. You are still presumed innocent up until proven guilty. Having said that, the judge needs to have a guarantee that you will appear at trial to face your accuser; thus, the requirement to post bail. If you show up at all of your scheduled criminal proceedings as required, and you are eventually found not guilty, the bail amount will be given back to you. In the case that you are condemned, the bail money will be used to pay for the penalties and fines that the judge may impose on you. When you miss the court hearings, your bail will be forfeited and you will be subject to arrest.
However, the civil bail bonds enforced on civil cases work as a guarantee or a surety with the court where the financial obligations, interests, and fees enforced on the accused can be paid from.
Do I need to hire a bondsman?
When you can afford to put up bail on your own, you don't need to employ the services of a bondsman. For one, they ask a small fee for their assistance, not to mention the collateral you need to provide for what is definitely classified as a loan.
In nearly all states, the bondsman will charge a rate of about 10-20% of the overall amount of the bail. You will not get this refunded even when you are cleared of the crime. On the upside, you don't need to stress over filing the necessary documents or have to deal with court personnel since the bail bondsman will handle everything for you. Second, you will have a better prospect of getting your bail application accepted by virtue of the reputation of the bondsman alone. Lastly, due to their familiarity with the process, you can be out of jail in a matter of hours .
Lastly, the bail bonds company recognizes the value of a good first impression while appearing in court. When you are committed to the regional or federal jail, you will be transported to court in the official inmate's jumpsuit. In contrast, when you are out on a bail bond, you can dress well and make a good first impression on the court.
Here's how the bail bonds process works
In case you get detained and accused of a supposed crime, the very first thing that you should do is to get in touch with a good attorney and someone, perhaps the attorney himself, who can get you in touch with a bail bondsman to start the bail bonds procedure. You or your representative can deal with the bail bondsman who will ask you common questions such as the defendant's name, birthdate, and the location or city of the arrest. The bail bondsman will then provide you an agreement for providing your bail bond. Upon your approval of the deal, the bail bondsman will handle all the procedures to get you released from jail. With the help of the bondsman, you can leave prison and enjoy the company of your friends and family once more.
Preparing to meet with a bail bondsman?
You need to have the following relevant information on hand when speaking to the bail bondsman:
- The offender's full name
- The jail, city, and county where the defendant is committed
- The suspect's booking number
- The charges the defendant is facing
- The amount of money of the bail bond
What is accepted as collateral?
In most cases, the bondsman will require collateral with the transaction. This is reasonable taking into account the risks that are involved. An inmate is a possible flight risk, and are countless occasions where a bondsman had to employ the services of a bounty hunter to bring back the fleeing suspect.
But what is accepted as collateral? Basically, when a bondsman considers an asset valuable, you can use it as collateral for the bail bond. Listed below are a some examples:
- Real estate
- Vehicles
- Stocks
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
If you can't afford the bail bond right now, bail bonds companies usually offer payment plans that you can make use of. Simply speak with the bondsman to figure out which option is best suited when it comes to your circumstances.
Use this website to find a bonding company that is perfect for you. Most of them operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to assist you or a family member to spend the least amount of time in prison as possible.
