BY |
Getting arrested and taken to jail can be a truly distressing experience. If this happens to you or a loved one, you’ll likely be desperate to secure their release really fast. However, knowing what to do when you or someone you care about is arrested can be so tough. When you’re feeling stressed and anxious, figuring out what to do next is challenging.
Learning about what bail is and how bail bonds work can seem so confusing. So, we’ve put together this quick guide to understanding bail bonds to help. Here’s what you need to know:
What is Bail?
First, let’s talk about bail and what it is. Bail is the term used to describe the conditional release of a defendant from jail. Being released on bail means the arrestee has to comply with pretrial restrictions and agree to return to court for their trial date.
So, what happens if the arrestee does not attend their trial dates? Well, they will be required to pay a sum of money agreed upon when bail is granted.
What is a Bail Bond?
A bail bond is an agreement made by the arrestee to attend court or forfeit the bail amount. It’s essential to choose the correct type of bail to suit your circumstances. Agreeing to post bail is a really big decision. It can involve a lot of financial risk, so you need to understand which option is best for you.
There are a few different types of bail bond options to consider, these are:
Surety bail bonds
A surety bail bond is the most common way that arrestees post bail. So, what is a surety bail bond? A surety bail bond is an agreement between the arrestee and a bail bond agent. The bail bond agent co-signs a bail bond to secure the arrestee’s release from jail. The bail bondsman charges a fee for co-signing. If the arrestee fails to attend their court appearances, the bail amount is forfeited.
Cash bail
Cash bail means that the arrestee or their loved ones will need to pay the full bail amount. The cash bail amount could be many thousands of dollars. If the bail amount is paid in cash, all the cash will be forfeited if the arrestee misses any court appearances.
Few people can afford to pay a cash bail amount. This is why so many arrestees turn to a bail bondsman to arrange a bail bond and secure their release from jail.
Property bail bonds
Property bail bonds mean using the value of your property as collateral to secure the arrestee’s release from jail.
Using property as collateral can mean the arrestee’s release takes longer. This is because the court has to verify the property’s value before the arrestee can be released. The property must also be worth at least twice the bail amount.
How Does the Bail Bond Process Work?
So, now we’ve explained what is a bail bond and the types available. But how does the actual process of getting a bail bond work?
- A defendant is arrested and taken to jail.
- Depending on the circumstances of the defendant/arrestee and nature of the crime, a bail amount will be set. This may be decided instantly using a bail schedule, or a judge may decide.
- The arrestee is permitted to contact a friend, family member, or other adult to arrange bail on their behalf. Alternatively, they can make their own bail arrangements, such as contacting a bail bond agent directly.
- The bail bond company will take down information about the arrestee, including their background and the bail amount that needs to be paid.
- Once the bail bond agent has this information, they can work out a fee for providing the bail bond. Payment options are also discussed at this point.
- After the fee has been agreed and paid, the bail bond agent prepares and files the paperwork and pays the bail amount.
- Once the jail receives the paperwork and payment, they can begin processing it. This can take a few hours to complete.
- After the jail has finished processing their paperwork, the arrestee can be released from jail. The arrestee must then comply with the conditions set for their release and attend court dates.
What is the Role of a Bail Bond Agent?
The role of a bail bond agent is extremely important. Without the help of a bail bond agent, release from jail can be slow and stressful. Here’s what the role of a bail bond agent involves:
- Being a first point of contact for arrestees and their loved ones trying to secure release from jail.
- Taking down the details of the arrestee and requesting further information to assess their individual situation.
- Assessing information such as the arrestee’s background, the likelihood of them fleeing before their court appearance, and any previous criminal history. This helps the bail bond agent decide whether it is too much of a financial risk to post bail on the arrestee’s behalf.
- Completing paperwork and taking payment from the arrestee before beginning the bail process.
- Contacting the jail and providing the relevant paperwork and bail payment.
- Securing the fast release of the arrestee so that they can await their trial from home.
- Contacting the arrestee and or their loved ones to ensure they’re sticking to the conditions of their bail and will attend their court appearances.
The Benefits of Using Bail Bonds
Speaking to a bail bond agency and getting a bail bond is the most popular way to secure release from jail. Obtaining bail bonds from a bail bond agent has many benefits. Here are just some of the reasons that bail bonds are the most popular method of posting bail:
Speeds up release from jail
Trying to gather together enough cash to pay bail can take a lot of time. You may need to apply for a loan, or to call up friends and family and ask to borrow money. Both of these options are stressful and time-consuming.
Just like trying to raise enough cash to post bail, property bonds can also be time-consuming to arrange. You or your loved one will be stuck in jail while the court verifies that the property can be used as collateral for the property bond. Again, this means more time spent in jail.
In contrast to the above, contacting a bail bond agent could see you or your loved one released from jail in a matter of hours. Bail bonds are also pretty quick to arrange. Choose the right bail bind agent and they could have your bail request processed super fast, whatever the time of day or night. This means less time confined to jail while you await your trial.
You don’t need to borrow cash to pay for bail
Feeling under pressure to raise cash fast can put you in some difficult situations. Few people have thousands of dollars just lying around waiting to be spent. This means that you’re going to need to find some cash and to do it quickly. This could mean selling your belongings to raise the cash, or borrowing from people and getting yourself into debt. For these reasons, many people prefer to take the potentially less risky option and arrange a bail bond.
A bail bond agent can help the process become hassle-free
Knowing how to post bail and how the process works is stressful. It can feel like a lot of pressure to try and organize paying bail for someone yourself. Using a bail bond agent takes away this stress.
Choose the right bail bond agent, and they’ll take care of a lot of the bail process for you. This includes guaranteeing the bail bond on your behalf and quickly securing your loved one’s release.
What to Look for When Choosing a Bail Bond Agent
Choosing the right bail bond agent to help you is essential. In California alone, there are over 2,300 bail agents and organizations. This can make it tough to choose one to contact. Here are some things to look out for when choosing a bail bond agent:
License
All bail bond agents and organizations need to be licensed with the California Department of Insurance (CDI). So, be sure to choose a bail bond agent that is reputable and has the correct license before you hand over any cash.
Experience
When it comes to finding a bail bond agent, experience really matters. Your freedom or your loved one’s release from jail is too important to gamble with. This means that you need a bail bond agent that you can trust to take care of your situation without any hassle.
Availability
No one wants to be left hanging on the phone when they’re stuck behind bars. So, always choose a bail bond agent that’s going to be there when you need them. Looking for a bail bondsman that’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a must. After all, you never know when you’re going to need to contact them. Plus, you don’t want to be stuck in jail waiting for the agent’s office to open when you could have been released hours before.
Payment options
Choosing a bail bond agency that has a choice of payment options is always a good call. You want to make it as easy as possible for yourself to make the bail payment. So, always ask what payment options are available before you commit to using a bail bond agent.
Prices
The cost of getting a bail bond is usually around ten per cent of the bail amount. But this can vary a little to take into account the fees and expenses involved in obtaining and processing the bail bond. Just be sure that you understand how much you will be paying and how the cost breaks down before you sign anything.
Common Misconceptions About Bail Bonds
Because posting bail can seem complicated, there are some common misconceptions that people have on the subject of bail. Here are some of the most common questions people have when it comes to bail bonds:
1. Do you still need an attorney if you get released on bail?
Yes. Contacting a bail bond agent and getting released from jail on bail still means you need to attend court appearances for your trial. This is a condition of your release on bail. Therefore, having an attorney to represent you at your trial is usually advised.
If you were injured during your arrest or while in jail, you may want to contact a Sacramento personal injury lawyer as well as a defense lawyer. This is because you could be entitled to compensation for your treatment.
2. Are all bail bond agents the same?
No. All bail bond agents may have the same role to perform. However, that doesn’t mean that all bail bond businesses are the same. It’s wise to choose your bail bond company carefully, as this can make getting your loved one released a much smoother process.
3. Does the arrestee need to arrange a bail bond for themselves?
No. An arrestee does not need to arrange their own bail bond to be released from jail. Bail bonds can be arranged by a family member, friend, or the arrestee’s attorney of record. In most cases, a loved one of the arrestee will organize their bail by contacting a bail bond agent on their behalf. The person arranging the bail needs to be a legal adult.
If the defendant doesn’t have someone to arrange their bail for them or would prefer to arrange it themselves, this is allowed.
4. Do I need lots of cash to secure a bail bond?
No. One of the reasons that many people use bail bond agents is because they don’t need lots of cash to secure a bail bond. Instead, you’ll need to pay a deposit to the bail bond. This is a percentage of the total bail amount. The bail bond agent will guarantee the remaining bail amount.
Contact King Stahlman Bail Bonds Today
If you or your loved one has been arrested, King Stahlman Bail Bonds is the number to call.
For over 50 years, we’ve provided a discreet, reliable, and affordable bail bond service to the people of San Diego, Vista, Anaheim and surrounding areas. We’re here for you 24/7, so contact us today, and we’ll get you out of jail fast.
