Everything you need to know about bail bonds
and posting bail:
What is bail?
Bail is the means of procuring the release
from custody of a person charged with a
criminal offense
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What happens at arraignment?
An arraignment is when the accused is
brought before the court and charges are
read. The defendant pleads guilty or not
guilty, and the judge then decides the
amount of bail to be set according to a Bail
Schedule. In some cases, such as capital
felonies, bail may not be granted.
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What is a cash bond?
The full amount of bail set (not just a
percentage) must be paid in cash only. The
guarantor may be refunded the full amount at
disposition of the case. Note if the
defendant fails to appear the entire amount
will be forfeited.
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What is a surety bond?
A surety bond is the most common bail bond.
A professional bail bondsman guarantees the
appearance of the defendant through an
insurance agency (surety). The bail bondsman
is paid a fee for his service and may
require collateral (property) from the
person posting bail.
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What is an immigration bond?
An immigration bond is a Federal bond set
for alien detainees pending INS or Homeland
Security hearings.
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How is the amount of bail
set?
The judge sets the amount of bail according
to a Bail Schedule. The judge may raise or
lower the amount of bail depending on
several factors; including seriousness of
the charges, criminal history, risk of
flight, and ties to the community.
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What happens if the arrestee
fails to appear in court?
The court may issue a warrant for the
defendant's arrest, resulting in a separate
charge, 'failure to appear.' The judge may
order the bail forfeited. However, the order
may be set aside in extenuating
circumstances such as death, major illness,
or detention by law enforcement.
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What is a bounty hunter?
A bounty hunter is a private recovery agent
contracted by the bond agency to apprehend a
bail fugitive. In many states this practice
is no longer legal.
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What happens if bail is paid
and charges are dismissed?
The fee paid to the bonding agency is
nonrefundable. At the dismissal of charges
the bond becomes void and collateral pledged
will be returned.
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How long does it take to get
out on Bail?
The paperwork takes approximately 15-30
minutes. The release time after the jail
receives our paperwork is generally 1-3
hours or less for local police stations and
3-8 hours for county jails. Generally
speaking, the busier the holding facility,
the longer it takes.
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Who is liable for the bail
bond?
The indemnitor (co-signer) is financially
liable for the bail bond. The indemnitor's
liability is limited to the full face value
of the bail bond plus all cost in the
re-arrest.
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Avoid Arrest:
We can verify outstanding warrants and post
most bail without the need to be booked into
county jail.
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