According to statistics, one in 20 people will serve a term in jail at a particular time in their lives. This means that you or someone close to you could end up in jail. The odds are high it could be a traffic offense. You might be arrested when you least expect it. In order for you to be released, you will be required to pay a set amount.
What is a Bail Bond?
This can be described as the amount you’re expected to pay in order to get out of jail. According to the law, the bail bond is supposed to be set within 48 hours after being arrested. There are exceptions to the rule but it generally applies for first-time offenders. There are a couple of reasons why it is important to leave jail even if you’ve been arrested because of a crime. Some of the reasons include:
- To have time to work on your defense
- To be able to get back to work to continue making a living
- It enables you to take care of your family
Types of Bail
There are two types of bail bonds and that is cash and surety. Their applications depend on the offense. For a cash bond, you will need the full amount in cash. In most instances, this option could end up being more expensive than surety. A surety is usually set for severe crimes such as felonies. For higher amounts, you might need to involve a bail bond company like for Connecticut Bail Bonds Group just to be safe.
How Do Bails Bond Work?
If the bail bond imposed is a huge amount, you’ll have no other option but to look for a bondsman. A bondsman will cover the remaining fee once you’ve paid 10% of the amount. An agreement will be drafted and you will need to provide a guarantee that you will appear in court for the specified dates.
Factors That Influence a Bail Bond Amount
There are a couple of factors that could influence the bail bond amount set. The main contributing factor has to be the severity of the crime. You might also have an extensive criminal record. The judge could also increase the amount if you have a habit of not showing up in court. There is also a chance that the judge could deny you bail altogether.
Collateral For Bail bond
Not every bail bond company is the same when it comes to collateral. For most companies, anything that is deemed as an asset could be used as collateral. Some of the examples that can be used as an asset include:
- Real estate
- Vehicle
- Bank Accounts
- Stock
- Credit Cards
- Jewelry
What Happens When You Violate Bond Conditions
If you violate bond conditions, both the bond company and the court will set the conditions for your release. The court will set dates in the future and you’re expected to appear in person for the hearings. You’re not supposed to break any more laws before your hearing. There are bail bond companies that will require that you surrender collateral temporarily before the court appearance. The bond enforcement agency has the right to locate you if you fail to appear in court. If you’re not found in six months, it will be your responsibility to pay the full bond amount.
Do You Get Your Money Back
In most instances, you won’t get your money back. In case you used a bail bond company, the money that you used will be viewed as a payment for their services. In the event it was a cash bond, you could get a portion of the money back after the settlement. The cash you paid will mostly go towards the fees that might have been accumulated during the proceedings of the case.
Should You Get a Bail Bond?
If you’re bailing a friend or family member out, there are a couple of things you need to know before looking for a bail bond. You will need to know the full name of the person in custody. In addition to that, you need to have details of their booking number and the bail amount. In case there is paperwork that is signed, you will be responsible if the accused doesn’t appear in court.
To sum it up, most bail bond companies will charge 10% of the bail amount. A bail bond company that charges you more than that should be a cause of concern. You can file for a motion to have the bail amount reduced. Make sure you’re working with an attorney in such a case.
