Asked To Pay For Bail? Know These Four Things
If you've received a phone call from someone in jail asking for help with bail, you'll likely be debating if you should help them out or not. Don't jump into making this financial commitment before you know the following four things.
What Exactly Is A Bail Bond?
If you're not sure what bail bonds are, think of them as a short term loans. You sign legally binding documentation that says you are responsible for paying back the loan by having the person released from jail return to court for their official hearing. If they do not appear in court or violate the terms of their bail, the bail bond could be lost to the court and the person returned to jail.
Who Decides The Bail Amount?
While a judge ultimately decides how much bail will need to be paid for early release from jail, there are guidelines that help set how much bail would be unreasonable for someone to pay for their crime. In general, the more serious nature of a crime will result in higher bail. Being a potential danger to the community, such as a being held for a violent crime, could also result in higher bail. The higher bail amount results in a higher premium that needs to be paid for your bail bond.
How Are Bail Bonds Secured?
When you purchase a bail bond from a local bondsman, it is common to provide some sort of collateral to help secure your bail bond. This is a piece of property that is worth the value of your bail bond, which could be lost of the bail money is lost. While you can hand over a physical asset to secure the value of the bail, such as jewelry, you can also use a vehicle or a home. These items will not instantly be lost, but your car or home could be taken away.
When Is The Collateral Returned?
The collateral will not officially return to you until all aspects of the court case are finished. This means receiving a not guilty verdict or being sentenced for the crimes they have been found guilty of. You wouldn't get it back after the first court hearing if there are more court dates to come.
Still confused over what is involved to get a bail bond? Be sure to reach out to a business such as First Choice Bail Bonds for more information.