Court appearances may be a stressful moment for both the individual and their families. To add to the stress of being arrested, the defendant is now being asked to pay an unexpected sum of money in order to avoid going to jail while awaiting their court date.
Bail bonds might assist to relieve some of the anxiety that comes with this process. Bail bonds are used to ensure defendants' freedom between court appearances by laying up the money for bail and placing it in the hands of close friends and family. Bail bonds are an important alternative to know about if you want to keep your loved ones out of jail when they don't need to be, and you don't want to pay with your own money.
We've put together a comprehensive guide on bail bonds. What they are, how they function, what to do if you or a loved one is arrested how to pay bail by phone, and some facts to bear in mind if you find yourself in a bind.
What Are Bail Bonds
Let's start by defining the term "bail." When a suspect is in jail awaiting a court hearing, they could be released if they pay the court a set amount of money. This happens after they've been arrested but before their court date. Once the accused has appeared in court, the money is returned to the person who paid it. Bail is a legal procedure and a charge that varies from state to state in the United States. In California, it is possible to pay bail by phone without leaving your home.
A bail bond agency is a corporation that guarantees that a person accused in court will attend the next court date by pledging money as a surety. Banks and other lending institutions rarely (if ever) give money for bail; however, bail bond companies specialize in taking on this risk and duty to assist the accused.
Typically, the accused's friends and relatives will negotiate with a bail bondsman to obtain the defendant's release within a few hours of the bail being established.
Who Has The Right To Bail?
Anyone charged with a non-capital offence is usually eligible for bail. If they are considered a flight risk or a continuing danger to the public, different state rules apply to detain persons accused of serious crimes in jail until their court hearing. Bail should be set and not denied for everyone else accused of a crime. It's only the amount that varies.
How Do Bail Bonds Work?
Once a person has been arrested, they will be given a hearing date as well as a bond amount that has been determined. It is now up to them, as well as their friends and/or family, to raise the funds necessary to secure their release in the interim between arrest and court appearances. As a third party, a bail bondsman can be of assistance in this situation.
Once bail is secured by the bail bondsman, it is the accused's responsibility to ensure that he or she appears at all scheduled court hearings. If the accused fails to appear for his or her scheduled court appearance, the bondsman will become a bounty hunter and track down the accused to bring them back to court. There is normally a grace period during which the accused can be brought back to court and the bail money can be re-released to the bondsman's bank account. The bounty hunter will make every effort to locate and deliver the accused to the appropriate court within this time frame.
If the accused fails to appear in court and the money set up by the bail bonds firm is not returned, the money will be confiscated by the courts. The agency will assume ownership of the collateral that will serve as security for this bail bond from the friend or family member acting on behalf of the accused. The fact that the defendant attends in court and that everyone works together to ensure that the proper legal procedures are followed is critical in these situations.
Post Bail From Your Home 24 Hours By Phone
Imagine, you’re on your way to work when you receive a text, email, or call that lets you know that a loved one has been incarcerated after being stopped by the police. You’re in complete disbelief. If your friend isn’t one for getting into trouble you may even question the reliability of the message, This is an extremely common situation. A simple forgotten fine or court date could lead to them being arrested. No matter the reason this is when a bail bondsmen can help you by easily posting bail from your home or even bail by phone once you arrive at work.
Three Steps To Posting Bail For Someone Without Leaving Your Home
- Call Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bond at 844-400-2245. Our bail agents are available by phone 24/7 and are bilingual in English and Spanish.
- Provide us with some basic information including the name of the person arrested, the jail location, and the method of payment.
- Make a payment of the bail by phone and we will arrange an Uber or Lyft for the person released.
Am I Able To Post Bail Without Leaving My Home?
Yes. It is very easy to handle the bail processing without leaving your home or from work. Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds agents are professional and equipped to manage all your paper work and take payment over the phone ( California only). A cosigner ( the person who is willing to sign for someone on a bail bond) will need to complete the forms and sign as a cosigner. In order to complete this process at home you will need access to a phone or computer. It may be a little difficult completing the forms on a small phone screen, so we recommend you using a desktop instead.
Once you have complete the form and electronically signed it needs to be sent back to us by email or fax. You can then pay your fees online through our website or give us a call and payment payment using a credit or debit card. We also accept PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, bank wire transfers and Western. Cash can be paid in person at any of our offices or deposited into the bail bond company's account at any Wells Fargo branch office. Once we have received everything we need we then need to verify the information. You will be provide with receipts and copies via text message or email, just let us know which one is better.
Can My Loved One Be Picked Up By The Bondsman And Driven Home?
Although it would be ideal for us to be able to offer a quick lift to our customers, we have insurance policies that we have to adhere too, this means we are unable to offer a ride. That being said, there are many options for rides these days, so you aren’t short of choices for paying ahead for their ride. You can use Uber, Lyft, and other local taxi services. You may find that some correctional centers require a person to pick up the prisoner in person from jail. If this is the case, we will let you know in advance so you are able to make arrangements. If you are bailing someone from Well Fargo, they could always come to our office after they have been released. In most cases we can also arrange an Uber or Lift pickup for you from jail to make sure the arrested person gets home safe after being released from jail. Just let us know you need this to happen.
What Happens Once The Bond Is Posted And They Are Released?
After your loved one has being release on bail, the defendant must comply with the terms. They need to attend all court hearing and meet any other stipulation that is imposed by the judge upon their release. If you cosign for a loved one, it is vital you make sure they attend all their court dates and on time.
It’s best if you stay in touch with them and you know their whereabouts just incase they fail to attend court. When you are financing bail bonds you may also be liable for any bail bond balance alongside the defendant.
You may also want to read about How To Finance A Bail Bond
Some tips to follow include:
- Maintain a cheerful and happy attitude toward them in order to reduce their flight risk
- Having a solid relationship with the accused is extremely important, especially during this time. Check in with them on a regular basis so that they do not feel alone.
- Distract them from associating with negative influences, which may have contributed to their current predicament.
- Provide the bail bond agency with as much information about the accused as possible so that, in the event that they fail to appear for bail, they can be more quickly tracked down and arrested.
- Understand the specifics of the case, as well as the ramifications of the accused's failure to appear in court. Make certain that the accused is likewise familiar with them!
If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail bond agency will be required to reimburse the courts for the whole amount of the bail bond that was agreed upon. The agent will then endeavor to locate the defendant and bring them to court in order to recover the funds within the time frame agreed upon (usually 90 days). Additionally, if the bail bond agency was given any collateral, that will also be taken into consideration. Following the bail conditions and appearing in court, on the other hand, will ensure that none of these things happen.
What Are The Different Types Of Bail Bonds?
Cash Bond
The simplest kind of payment, the accused pays the whole Bail amount to the courts in cash, sometimes by check or credit card if accepted by the local county court.
Federal Bail Bond
A federal bail bond must be posted if the defendant has been charged with a federal or interstate offence. For these sorts of bail, a greater cost and more collateral are frequently required. Fraud, kidnapping, bank robbery, and hate crimes are examples of federal crimes.
Surety Bond
In this post, we're mostly talking about a surety bond. This is a third-party agent who will pay the accused's bail bond if they fail to appear in court.
Citation Release
A citation release is just a written notice from the arresting officer stating that the accused is free to go home and will not be transported to jail. They only need to appear in court. This is frequently granted in the case of minor offences.
Property Bond
A piece of real estate is pledged in lieu of cash, and the courts have the authority to confiscate that property if the defendant fails to appear in court on the scheduled day.
Personal Recognizance Release
This sort of release is frequently granted if the accused is not thought to be a danger to the community or a flight risk, and it is most often granted to persons who have been accused of committing minor offences or who are not considered to be a flight risk. They will not be required to post bail money.
Immigration Bail Bond
This sort of bond is reserved for persons who have been detained for immigration-related reasons, which is the primary distinction between this type of bond and the surety bond described above. It operates in the same manner as the surety bond described above. Because of the federal character of the offence, it is typically set a little more than the average bond amount.
Can The Court Refuse To Take Cash Bail?
If the source of the funds is dubious, such as coming from a criminal operation, a court may refuse to take bail, especially if a considerable sum of money is deposited.
If you or a friend posts cash bail of $100,000 or more and you or a friend is charged with embezzlement or drug trafficking, the judge may be skeptical of the fund's origin.
The burden of proof is on you to show that the monies came from a reputable source. If this is not the case, the court may refuse to accept the money.
If your friends or family need a bail bondsman, turn to Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds, where we can help you with your bail bonds needs even by phone. Contact us 24 hours a day at 844-400-2245.
