Bail Bondsman - Helping You Handle a Legal Crisis

Facing a criminal charge is a trying time, but bails offer some provisional relief which makes it significant to the accused and their family. A bail bondsman is a specialist service that helps individuals facing a criminal charge honor their bails and get reprieve from jail time.

What is Bail Surety
Following any criminal charge, an accused is typically held behind bars until the actual trial date is set. Yet, given the possible delays between an initial arrest and the actual trial, courts may set bails, which is basically a surety that the state establishes to help ensure that the accused appears before court at the time of trial. This deposit is usually set at a specified amount depending on the alleged crime as well as any past convictions, and some judges are prone to setting higher bails. For instance, bails are significantly higher if the crime committed is serious or if the accused has a criminal history and is considered a flight risk. 

In the unlikely event that the individual fails to appear in court for the trial or otherwise seems to evade court summons, a bail jumping notice may be issued by the bonding company and the bond is revoked. Aside from having to repay the original surety amount, the accused also faces additional legal consequences and therefore evading trial is never in the best interests of the criminally charged party.

Understanding Bail Bonding
In most cases, the family of the accused goes to great lengths to ensure that their loved one is out of jail, even if still facing trial. When seeking help from family or friends is not viable, some even go to the extent of emptying their entire bank account since the money is in itself not spent but merely pledged toward buying temporary freedom for the individual facing a court charge. 

Choosing a Reliable Bail Bondsman
Not everybody can afford to set aside a substantial sum as a surety in court and lock funds until the time that the trial date is set. This is where the services of a bonding agency proves to be indispensible. If the deposit amount set by court is beyond the means of the accused or the immediate family, the bonding company pays the deposit in court for a fee, which is typically a percentage of the surety amount. Once the case resumes in court and the accused takes the stand, the court refunds the surety to the bonding agency, although the percentage fees paid is nonrefundable.

Bonds are typically issued by specialized agencies that basically loan out funds equivalent to the deposit amount, with a nonrefundable retainer which is usually 10% of the surety. Some services set predefined terms that require that the individual restrict themselves to a certain area, closer to their homes, and checking in periodically with the bonding company.

Bails are often expensive and paying out of pocket always carries a degree of risk, not to mention that it is in most cases impossible under financial strain. Thus seeking help from a trustworthy bail bondsman agency is imperative to securing that much-needed release for your loved one.