Whether you’re an accused criminal or just a concerned friend or family member bail can be the difference between spending your time in jail and going home. However, some people are locked up because they can’t afford bail.
Bail is set in order to ensure that a person will return for their court dates. Discover through Golden Boy Bail Bonds the available bond types and associated costs for a comprehensive understanding of your options.
1. What is Bail?
Bail is a deposit given by someone to secure the release of a defendant from jail before their trial. A judge will set bail after a criminal case is filed and will usually require a certain amount depending on the crime.
Bail can be paid in cash, a property bond (often real estate like a home or commercial building), or by pledging collateral such as personal possessions. A person can be “exonerated” of their bail bonds after meeting certain requirements such as attending all of their court dates.
Some people don’t have enough money to pay for their entire bail amount so they go through a process called a bonding company. The bonding company will take a percentage of the total cost of the bail as their fee and the defendant has to promise that they will appear in court for all proceedings. If they miss a court date, the judge can issue a warrant for their arrest and the guarantor is responsible for the full bail amount.
2. How Much Does Bail Cost?
Getting arrested and thrown into jail is a traumatic experience for anyone. But it’s especially scary and overwhelming for those who are low-income. These people often get stuck in pretrial detention because they can’t afford bail. This can cause them to lose their jobs, housing, or family stability. Many even end up pleading guilty just to get out of jail.
The court decides how much bail should be set for a particular defendant. The judge usually takes external circumstances into account when deciding the amount. The judge may also lower a bail amount if the defendant has strong ties to the community.
Bail can be paid for in cash or with a bail bond. With a bond, the person posting bail pays a non-refundable fee to a bondsman. This fee is usually 10% of the total bail amount. This fee is a form of insurance to ensure that the defendant will appear for all court dates.
3. How Can I Pay Bail?
A person who is charged with a crime will often be held in jail until bail is set. Usually, friends and family will pay the money to get the person out of jail. This is called “bailing someone out.”
You can pay cash bail directly to the court. The judge will set the amount of bail at the arraignment and you can then pay the amount in person at the courthouse. Some cities also accept credit cards for payment.
If you do not have cash to pay for the entire bond, the court may allow you to use personal property like a car or house as collateral. However, this is not always an option. The value of the property needs to be at least 150% of the bail amount. In addition, you will still be assuming the risk that the defendant will not show up for their future court dates.
Another option for paying bail is to hire a bail bond agency. A bail bond agency works much like a bondsman, but charges a smaller fee up front and collects the full amount of the bail plus their fee when the defendant shows up for their future court appearances.
4. What if I Can’t Pay Bail?
The first thing to do if you can’t afford bail is contact a bondsman and explain the situation. They will work with you to find a solution that works. However, if you fail to make your required payments they have the right to sell any property used as collateral in order to compensate for the bond amount.
Having someone you love stuck in jail can be heartbreaking. It’s important to understand how long they will have to stay there until their case is resolved. This can take weeks, months or even years.
Learn about the booking process so you can understand how long it will take for your loved one to be released from jail. Also, if you know their court date is coming up soon it’s a good idea to talk to the local bond agency about how much it will cost to have them out on bail. Then you can plan ahead and have the money ready if necessary.
