When it comes to understanding how the bail bonds process works, many may still have an outdated view of bonding agents. As a result, many who get arrested are left wondering how does a bail bond work, and how do they get one?
In short, a bail bond works similarly to other financial loans, but most banks will not lend for legal needs. That can make it that much more challenging for the average person to know what their options are when they or someone they know needs help.
The Bail Amount
If someone gets arrested and charged with committing a crime, they get sent to jail. However, what many residents might not realize is that jail is merely a holding pen.
People remain in jail until they go to trial. If they get found guilty by the court, they then must spend time in prison until their sentence ends.
However, the judge may decide that, if the alleged criminal pays a specified amount of money, they can secure their release until it’s time to go to trial. Otherwise, they will remain in jail until it’s time to appear in court.
Bail gets set at a variety of different amounts, depending on whether or not someone is a repeat offender or if they committed a violent act. If a crime is severe enough, they may get denied bail altogether because they are deemed too risky to let out into the public.
Making Bail
If someone gets arrested, but they have the necessary assets to post bail, they can get released until it is time to appear before a judge. Otherwise, they may turn to a friend or a family member to help pay the amount.
When the value of bail is too high to pay out of pocket, you’ll likely need to obtain a bail bond. The bond is secured by paying the company a premium, often between 5% and 10% of the total amount.
The company posts bail for you under the condition that you do show up for your court date. If you don’t, you’ll have to pay them back in full, and they’re going to arrest you themselves.
Posting bail, then, becomes a financial decision, and one that should not get taken lightly. Make sure you fully understand what you agree to before signing a bail bonds contract.
