You might have heard that someone was “out on bail” without knowing precisely what that means. The American bail system prevents certain defendants from having to wait in jail until their case can be heard in court. Depending on the criminal charges, the judge may set an amount of money that the defendant can choose to pay to avoid pre-trial detention. The details vary from state to state, but the amount is often in the thousands of dollars.
What is bail?
Bail is an amount of money set by a judge as a form of insurance between the defendant and the court. This can be paid in cash; however, since the amount tends to be more than the person can afford, they usually opt for bail bonds to pay it. The bail will be used as insurance to make sure that the defendant appears in court for his or her trial. If the defendant doesn’t show, that money is forfeited.
What are bail bonds and how do they work?
They are surety bonds, which are provided by a bondsman. When a judge decides on a bail amount, the defendant can either pay with cash or seek assistance from a bail bondsman.
It isn’t a free service; the defendant is required to pay a certain percentage of the bail amount, usually around 10%. The rest of the amount is covered through a collateral. The defendant can provide it, but if they are not able to, then the bondsman asks for collateral from family or friends, whoever can provide it.
From here on, what happens next will depend on the defendant. If they decide to appear for their court hearing, then the collateral is returned to them at the conclusion of the case. The bail bondsman does, however, keep the 10% cash as payment for their service.
If the defendant doesn’t appear for his court date, then they forfeit the bail bond. The collateral that was provided is used to pay the court.
Are there different types of bail bonds?
There are two types of bail bonds.
Civil bail bonds are used in civil cases. This not only covers the debt but also all the interest and costs associated with the court proceedings.
Criminal bail bonds are the ones you most commonly hear about. This is a bail bond that defendants request as insurance until their court date. This type of bail also covers any penalties or fines that the judge set against the defendant.
How can you get a bail bond?
You want to go with a reliable bondsman. That way, you get the proper service you need. Dallas bail bonds service provides bail bonds for your immediate release from release. Whether you were arrested for a felony, misdemeanor, or traffic-related crime, they will help you make your bail.
They offer various payment methods with easy terms so you can meet the bail amount. They work around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call and consult with them to see how they can help you.
