Bail Bonds: The Best Guide to Bail Bonds
In this brief guide to bail bonds, we will answer all the questions you may be having regarding bail bonds. It is a beginner’s guide, where we will progress from basics to the nitty-gritty of bail bonds.
First the basics
In the United States, everyone is accorded basic rights—even if one is accused of a crime. One such right is the right to bail, provided that the defendant is accused of a non-capital or serious crime. As the Judiciary Act of 1789 puts it, “upon all arrests in criminal cases, bail shall be admitted, except where punishment may be by death, in which cases it shall not be admitted but by the supreme or a circuit court, or by a justice of the supreme court, or a judge of a district court, who shall exercise their discretion therein.”
In this guide to bail bonds, you can find all bail bond questions answered. When someone is arrested, he or she can be released after paying a bail amount set by the court. Some bail amounts may run into hundreds of thousands of dollars, an amount few people can afford to pay. This is a grim reality and is why bail bonds exist.
What Is a Bail Bond?
With the help of bail bonds, you do not need to pay the full amount of the bail. You just need to pay a certain percentage of the bail value—which varies based on the crime, severity, frequency, state, and history of the accused. A bail bond is a form of insurance that secures someone’s release from jail.
A bail bond is a surety bond, posted by a bail bond company on the defendant’s behalf. It promises that the bail bond agency takes responsibility for the defendant’s appearance in the court on the day of trial. Should a defendant not appear, the bail bondsmen will pay the forfeited bond.
How Do Bail Bonds Work?
Bail bonds are issued and posted by a bail bond agency. Bail bond agencies are licensed after they go through basic but rigorous training and education. The bail bond industry is tightly regulated by the state governments.
For their services, a bail bond company charges a non-refundable premium, usually 10% of the full bail amount.
The State of Connecticut mandates the fees for a bail bond to be 10% of the first $5,000 and 7% of anything in excess. To make sure that the defendant appears in court, the bail bond company sometimes requires collateral from a guarantor.
The collateral worth shall be commensurate with your bail amount. But if you don’t have tangible assets, your family members or even friends can lend their assets as collateral. It could be anything, from cars to jewelry to stocks to real estate. The collateral is just an assurance that the accused will not jump bail and appear in the court when required. After the defendant’s appearance, the collateral is duly returned.
Who Sets the Bail?
In the United States, it is the responsibility of the judges to set a bail amount. The bail amount depends on the severity and frequency of the crime, and the history of the defendant. The hearing judges have considerable leeway while determining the bail amount. They can consider different factors and can raise or reduce the bail amount, or discard it altogether. But to let the defendants not wait too long for their bail hearing, states have issued standard bail schedules for certain crimes.
The bail amount directly translates to the bail bond premium. For instance, if the bail is set at $4,000, you will have to pay your bail bondsmen $400 as a service fee for posting the bail.
How to Get a Bail Bond?
If you or your loved one is arrested, you’d definitely consider a bail bond. You would contact a bail bond agent, usually known as a bail bondsman. But make sure that your bail bond company in Connecticut is not a fraud, but a licensed and authorized agency. You can follow these simple tips to finding the best bail bond agency near you. When you call them, provide them the following details:
The full name of the person detained
Which jail they are kept in.
Their booking or report number.
The charges which they are accused of.
Any extra details that you would like to give.
Once that is complete, your bail bondsmen will be on their way. They will post a bail bond after the necessary paperwork. Depending on some factors, the release may take from half an hour to a couple of hours.
Do I Really Need a Bail Bond?
It is up to you. You can post your bail in cash, or can solicit the services of the bail bondsmen. Both would do the work as stipulated by the law. But following are some benefits of bail bonds.
Bail bonds save money—you’re required to pay only a percentage of the bail amount.
Seamless and quick release from jail—bail bondsmen have the necessary know-how and first-hand industry experience.
Being in safe hands—you won’t feel abandoned.
Avoiding financial scrutiny—paying less means not inviting others to peek into how you make money, even if you are doing everything legal.
I Have Posted a Bail Bond. What Now?
If you are out on bail, here or some things you need to take note of as part of this guide to bail bonds.
Don’t miss your court appearance
Don’t leave your state—unless authorized
Don’t contact the parties involved, especially those who may be witnesses.
Don’t ignore the bail conditions
Don’t commit any illegal activity
We hope this brief guide to bail bonds has helped you understand the bail bond process. But fret not if the above guide doesn’t have something you were looking for. Send us your query and will try our best to answer your questions and concerns about bail bonds.
If you, or someone you care about, need further help regarding bail bonds, 3-D Bail Bonds is just a call or email away. We are a licensed bail bonds company, serving Connecticut since 1997. Be it night or day, our team of professionals is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist you.
