Before a defendant can be released on bail, he or she must be in custody. A bail bondsman collects a non-refundable fee and collateral from the defendant. In exchange for the money, the defendant agrees to make the remaining amount in full to the court if the defendant fails to appear in court. In some cases, a bond can be as small as $10. Listed below are some of the most common reasons why a defendant may need to post bail.
A personal bond is a guarantee by an individual, a friend, or an agency. The suspect agrees to appear at court on the days specified in the agreement. The defendant is free to leave, so the bail agent pays for the amount. The accused pays back the amount of the bond to the court in cash or by check. The payment is often made to the agent directly. If he or she is released from custody, he or she must turn over the collateral to the bail agent within 45 days.
A bail bond can be a lifeline if the defendant is facing a criminal charge. With the assistance of a bail bondsman, the defendant can be released from jail until his or her court appearance. Although the bail amount may be high, the agents go to great lengths to make sure the defendant shows up for court. Sometimes they will even personally take the defendant to the courthouse. If the defendant does not appear for court on the specified date, an arrest warrant is issued.
A bail agent may not take any of the defendant's property as collateral, so it is best to get a copy of any collateral he or she owns. The bail bonds agent will ask for a portion of the money upfront, which is the premium. Then, a co-signor may contact a bail agency to pay the remaining amount. If the defendant doesn't show up, the co-signor will be responsible for paying the entire bail amount.
Once the defendant is released on bail, the court will notify the clerk's office. The defendant will be released from jail and be released the next day. Depending on the case, the release of a defendant on bail can occur almost immediately, or it may take several hours. The defendant must present cash or a valid form of payment to the clerk's office. A person's credit card will not work. The payment of a bond is not refundable.
A bail payer must present the paperwork to the court. If the defendant fails to show up for a hearing, he or she will be released on personal recognizance. The court can also release a defendant on his or her own recognizance. However, this option is only available to low-level crimes. A defendant cannot get away on bail without the money. So, it is best to use a bond that meets all these criteria.
If you probably want to get more enlightened on this topic, then click on this related post: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bail.
