Bail bonds
When an individual is incarcerated and booked for a major crime, they need to wait in jail up until a bail hearing. It is at this bail hearing that the judge sets the bail amount. If that individual can't raise the amount, they need to stay in jail till their court date. But that does not always need to be the case; they can also seek the services of a bail bondsman.
Sadly, most people end up staying in prison till their court date because the majority of do not have a large amount of cash sitting around in the bank.
Our website will assist you with bailing out your loved ones by connecting you to reputable and inexpensive bail bond agents in Washington County.
Why does a judge impose bail ?
The law allows the services of a bail bondsman to post a bail bond, also called surety bond, to help a defendant get temporary liberty while awaiting their court hearing.
The law allows two kinds 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 innocent until proven guilty. That being said, the court requires a guarantee that you will appear in court to face your accuser; hence, the need to post bail. If you participate in all your scheduled criminal proceedings as required, and you are in the end acquitted, the bail amount will be returned to you. In case you are condemned, the bail amount will be used to pay for the fines and penalties that the judge might enforce on you. If you miss the court appearances, your bail will be forfeited 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 defendant will be capable to pay the penalties and fines that the judge might impose on the accused after the trial.
Why do I require a bail bond?
Utilizing a bondsman is one of the most affordable ways of getting out of prison. In a lot of states, the rate for a bail bond is 10% of the bail amount, which offers you an affordable possibility to get released from prison. So if you are wanting to bail someone out, your very first factor to consider should be to locate a bondsman in your city.
Another reason why you must consider utilizing a bonding company is the fact that they simplify the notorious and similarly complicated judicial process. You contact the bail agent, provide some basic information about yourself or the person you wish to bail out, and they will post the bail on your behalf. Before you know it, you are free and enjoying dinner together with your loved ones.
All of us know first impressions are the most lasting, so it certainly is a good idea to appear before a judge as a responsible member of the community in civilian clothes, rather than turning up in a jail jumpsuit. A bondsman gives you the opportunity to dress the part and show the judge the other side of you.
How does the bail bond process work?
Finding a good bail bondsman is important. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous businesses around who exploit unsuspicious people who are already desperate for help.
Make sure you are ready when you get in touch with a bondsman. Ask all your questions, and only after all your questions are answered should you take the next steps of hiring their services. The bail bondsman can then start with posting the bail and submitting the required documents to get you or a family member released from prison.
Information your bondsman needs
When you get in touch with a bonding company, you will have to provide the following details:
- Your name if you are the defendant
- The name and location of the prison where the suspect is detained
- The booking number in the police blotter
- The charges filed against the offender
- Any extra relevant info
What is accepted as collateral?
In most cases, the bonding company will ask for collateral with the deal. This is reasonable taking into consideration the risks that are involved. A prisoner is a flight risk, and are plenty of occasions where a bail bondsman needed to hire a bounty hunter to bring back the fleeing suspect.
But what is accepted as collateral? Basically, when a bail bondsman considers an asset valuable, you can use it as collateral for the bail. Below are a couple of examples:
- Realty
- Autos
- Stocks
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
If you can't afford the bond right now, bonding companies have payment plans that you can make use of. Simply talk to the bail bondsman to determine what option is best suited with regard to your situation.
Use this website to search for a bail bondsman that is perfect for you. Many of them operate day and night, ready to help you or a family member to spend the as little time as possible in prison.
