Bail Bonds Explained

Finance & Money Blog

A bail bond comes into play when an individual is arrested for a crime. The individual might have to stay in jail until their court proceedings, or they might be lucky enough to be granted bail. Keep on reading to discover everything you want to know about bail bonds.

Bail Bond Definition

To help you understand what a bail bond is, let's first discuss more about bail. Bail refers to the amount of money that the court asks a defendant to pay to be released as they await their court proceedings. The amount provided as bail acts as insurance between the defendant and the court. In many cases, the amount is pretty high, making it difficult for some people to pay independently. That is where a bail bondsman comes in. A bail bondsman posts bail for the defendant. The agent helps the defendant by positing a surety to secure release.

Bail Bonds Basics

A bail bond agent can help a defendant who cannot afford to pay their own bail amount. The bail bondsman asks the defendant to produce a percentage of the bail costs, often about 10 percent of the total bail amount. After paying that money, the bail agent will secure release for the defendant and use the remaining bail amount as collateral. In instances where the defendant cannot raise collateral, friends and family are contacted to help. The bail bondsman gets to keep the 10 percent deposit for their services, even if bail is later discharged. If the defendant fails to honor their court date, the bail bondsman can take further action to secure their payments.

Bail Eligibility and Amount

To determine whether you are eligible for bail or not, the court examines various factors. For instance, an individual with a higher flight risk and minimal family obligations might fail to qualify for bail. Even if the individual is granted bail, they will be asked a higher amount than others. On the contrary, defendants with no criminal history and strong community connections are likely to qualify for lower bail amounts. The exact amount will usually be decided in a bail hearing with a judge.

If you or a loved one has been arrested and cannot pay your own bail, it would be best to contact a bail bondsman. The bail bondsman will post bail and secure your release. Make sure to work with a pre-screened bail agent. For more information on bail bonds, contact a bail bondsman.

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