Understanding The Bail Bond Process For First-Time Offenders
If you were arrested in a state that allows you to bond out of jail by obtaining a bail bond, then it's important you have a clear understanding of how the process works. Though you are likely frustrated and stressed out right now, it's important to sit back, take a deep breath, and conduct a bit of research about how to help yourself. Once you have a clear understanding of the bail bond process, then have a loved one contact a bail bond service and obtain a bond for you.
Bail Bond Basics
A bail bond is simply a promise to return to court for future hearings with financial backing. If the court agrees to let you bond out of jail, then they will give you a dollar amount required to do so. For example, assume the judge grants you bail with a $5000 bond.
While $5000 sounds like a lot of money, you can get out of jail by paying just a small percentage of that amount to a bail bond company. For example, if you assume the rate in your state is 10% of the bond amount, then you will be required to pay $500 for the bond. However, the person who bonds you out will also have to put up collateral for the other $4500 of the bond's value.
If you do not show up in court, then the bonding company is entitled to collect the $4500 from the collateral, and there is no way to get it back. If you do show up and the bond is no longer in play, then the bonding company only keeps the $500.
Acceptable Types of Bail Bond Collateral
There are many different types of collateral accepted by bail bond services. Some of the most common include:
- a vehicle
- a valuable collection
- valuable jewelry pieces
In addition, for high bond amounts, some people use their home as the collateral.
Types of Bail Bonds
Lastly, it's important to mention there are many different types of specialty bail bonds for crimes that require more than a standard bond. Some examples include:
- immigration bail bonds
- DUI bail bonds
- domestic violence bail bonds
Whether you need to obtain a standard or specialty bail bond, your loved one needs to contact a local bail bond company. They should ensure the bonding agent is licensed and insured and that they have good reviews online from past customers.