5 Myths About Bail Bonds You Shouldn't Believe
Are you looking to bail out a loved one or a friend fast? Everyone has a right to bail for non-capital crimes as guaranteed by the eighth amendment of the constitution. Unfortunately, many people stay in jail unnecessarily because they cannot exercise this right. Sometimes ignorance of the bail bond process denies them help by people outside. There are various myths out there about bail bonds that you shouldn't believe:
Myth 1. You Must Post the Entire Bail Amount
Bail amounts vary from a few hundred dollars to upwards of a hundred thousand dollars or sometimes more. But you are not required to post the whole amount upfront. Instead, you are required to pay a percentage of this bail as a premium. The percentage differs from state to state.
Bail bond agents make it even easier to post bail by allowing you to spread the payment of the premium percentage. For example, if the bail required is $50,000, your bail bond agent will require you to pay, say 10% of the amount, which is $5,000. The bail bond agent will then post the entire $50,000. You can often negotiate with the bail bond agent to pay the $5,000 over two or three months.
Myth 2. Bail Bond Agents Set the Fees
Bail bond agents do not have the discretion of setting the premium percentage. Instead, state court regulations set it. For example, if your state sets 5% as the premium, a bail bond agent cannot exceed this amount.
Myth 3. You Must Pay Bail Bond in Cash
While the term "cash bail" is sometimes used when talking about bail bonds, it doesn't mean that the payment must be in hard cash. You can pay in any acceptable format the bail bond agent uses. Payment methods include cash, credit card, bank transfer, and money wires.
Myth 4. Bail Bond Agents Can Negotiate Bail
The court sets the bail amount. You or your lawyer can negotiate the bail amount before the judge sets bail. But once the bail amount is set, there is nothing the bail bond agent can do. You can negotiate with the bail bond agent regarding the payment options for the premium percentage the bail bond agent charges.
Myth 5. Bail Bonds Frees Dangerous Criminals
Everyone has a right to bail because the constitution says a person is innocent until proven guilty. The judge may deny bail if the crime is very serious and of a capital nature, e.g., terrorism. However, a bail bond is very helpful because it enables people to organize their defense more capably.
Do you need to free a relative or friend from jail while their court case proceeds? Contact a 24/7 bail bonds company, such as Affordable Bail Bonds, about the case.