Bail bonds are surety loans that allow defendants who have been granted bail the opportunity to return home to assist in the defense of their case.
Whether you are arrested for a series of traffic violations, misdemeanors, or a felony, an arraignment occurs in which not only charges are listed, one's attorney will present a statement in defense of their clients (your) eligibility for bail. If accepted, your next step should be to see a bail bonds service.
The arraignment isn't just for bail determination. The defendant will also discover when their case will be heard. This date and its proximity or distance from the current date lets the defendant and lawyer know how much time the client will have to spend in jail, or at home. During this time they will both prepare for the date ahead. All clients would like the opportunity to receive a reasonable bail amount with the promise that, as long as they provide payment they can be released on their own recognizance only to report back to court on their pre-established date.
Bail bonds are like loans. They are set by the predetermined amount the court saw fit for the type of crime and client's past record. When a defendant cannot pay their bail in full they will turn to family, friends or collateral to help them rent freedom or by time to help in the process of proving their innocence. Before a defendant is actually released these arrangements have to be made. Either the defendant will go through the phone book from lock up or will have a parent, partner or friend call from their home in order to set up the bail bonds loan.
When seeking this kind of loan, the defendant or their friend must disclose the charges and background in order for the bondsman loan distributor to determine for themselves whether they want to take the risk. This may mean several phone calls and attempts and visits to various establishments. Eventually you are likely to locate someone or a partnership business that will offer a temporary financial surety of the defendant in his or her temporary release.
The defendant must provide cash, credit, title, vehicle or sometimes jewelry as collateral in order for the money to be released to the court. Although you've heard that the money is returned to the bondsman when the defendant arrives for their appointed day, you're likely to wonder what they get out of all of the risk. Well, up to a 10 percent fee is attached to the bail bonds loan that they hold onto. The bondsman takes the risk while the defendant gets the time.
