New CT Bail Bond Change in the practice book, also erroneously called new bail bond law in Connecticut. Let’s get to the bottom of this bond change with some questions and answers, see below:

1. What Is the Ten Percent Cash Bail Option?

The Connecticut ten percent cash bail option means they are making you your own bondsman. Requiring you to ensure the defendant appears in court rather than a bail bonds company.

2. What Does a Bondsman Do?

A bondsman posts the bond which secures the release of the defendant from jail when an individual is charged with a crime, they go further to help people get through their court appearances and ultimately guarantee the state of Connecticut that they will ensure defendants’ court appearances.

3. How Does a Bondsman Help Navigate the System?

A bondsman is very familiar with the individual’s court processes and procedures. They guide defendants and their families through the process with the arresting agencies and respective Superior Courts. They know which agencies to communicate to depending on the criminal charges and they can also refer to different lawyers who may be experts on specific subjects. While bail bondsmen cannot give legal advice, they can steer you toward someone who can.

4. With This Law, Is It True That I Don’t Need a Bondsman?

Technically it may be true but it may not be the most cost-effective and responsible way of getting your loved one out. Without a bondsman, you personally are guaranteeing that the individual- the defendant will appear in court and comply with all of the conditions that were ordered by the court, bail commissioner, or police officer. If you use a bondsman, they will have the authority to assure compliance so the responsibility is shifted from you to the bail agent: who may have the ability to get the defendant to comply with the court.

5. Do I Have to Pay the Ten Percent to the Court?

No. You can always use the services of a licensed Connecticut bail bondsman instead of the ten percent cash bail option. There can be no bond ordered where a bondsman is not an option. See Statute 54-64a which states “in no event shall a judge prohibit a bond from being posted by a surety agent (bondsman).”

6. How Do I Pay the 10% Cash Bail Option in Connecticut?

The 10% cash bail option in Connecticut must be paid in CASH. This is a “10 percent cash only” option and you must have it in exact change. 

7. Where Do I Pay the CT Ten Percent (10%) Cash Bail Option?

Connecticut’s newest ten percent cash bail option may be paid directly to the arresting agency or to the court prosecuting the loved one. Ultimately this cash is deposited with the court that is prosecuting the defendant. This may alter your negotiating or plea bargaining power.

8. Why Was the Bail Bond Change Made?

The bail bonds change was instituted by the judges to reportedly help Connecticut’s indigent population. 

It does nothing remotely close to that claim. In actuality, it hurts them by requiring the full ten percent cash to be paid instead of the use of a bail bondsman who may accept credit cards and allow for a lower down payment with a payment plan.

A wealthier person may get their money back but a poor person may not. This is the true reality of the newly implemented ten percent cash bail change.

9. When Would the Bail Change Take Effect?

This bail change in the practice book became effective on January 1st of 2020.

10. Who Instituted the Change on All Bonds in Connecticut?

The change to the practice book instituting the ten percent cash bail option was voted in by the Rules Committee of the Superior Court, a judicial body made up entirely of judges. This went against the intent of the Legislature and without input from other parties affected by the change including defendants, their defense attorneys, bail commissioners, or bail agents.

11. Does the Ten Percent Option Serve the Taxpayers?

We believe it doesn’t. When the government interferes with private industries, eliminating private companies and replacing them with state or taxpayer-funded programs or departments does it really serve the taxpayers?

12. Is the Ten Percent Cash Bail Option the Cheapest Bail Option?

It’s not the cheapest bail option even though it may seem at first. Defendants and cosigners are assuming a lot of responsibilities in the judicial process without understanding it fully. Most importantly, the accused party is losing its negotiating power because the funds are with the arresting agency already. The accused party is allowing the arresting agency to hold their funds, this is the same party that will be prosecuting them.

The whole premise of the ten percent cash bail is a tragedy to the pretrial release process in Connecticut which has been reported as the “Gold Standard” and one of the fairest and equitable systems in the country.  

13. What Happens if the Defendant Misses Court?

On bonds posted with the ten percent cash bail option directly to the state, the person who signed the defendant is fully responsible for the full bail amount as soon as this defendant misses court.

When you sign an appearance bond stating you are liable for the full amount of the bond and forfeit the ten percent you paid you become responsible to pay the bail in full. For example, if you pay $2000 on a $20,000 bond you will pay to the state of Connecticut $20,000 whether the failure to appear was willful or not.

You may be setting yourself up for kidnapping charges if you attempt to bring the defendant to court yourself. Be aware of kidnapping charges see CT Statute 29-152e. details below.

“Sec. 29-152e. About license required. No person shall, as a surety on a bond in a criminal proceeding or an agent of such surety, engage in the business of taking or attempting to take into custody the principal on the bond who has failed to appear in court and for whom a rearrest warrant or a capias has been issued pursuant to section 54-65a unless such person is licensed as a professional bondsman under chapter 533, a surety bail bond agent under chapter 700f or a bail enforcement agent under sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive.”

14. What Are the Benefits of Using a Bail Bondsman?

Contrary to the ten percent cash bail, a bail bondsman will help assure the defendant appears in court. The bail agent or bail bonds company will take credit cards, offer payment plans and sometimes accept a check to release someone from jail. These agents can take as little as 3 percent of the bond to release someone from jail. The bail bondsman will bring the defendant back to court if they miss their court appearance providing relief for the person who signed on the bail from owing the full amount of the bail.

A CT bail bonding agency works 24 hours/ 7 days to keep people out of jail while securing their return to court.

3-D Bail Bonds offers free consultations 24 hours a day. If you have questions regarding the newest ten percent cash bail option please reach out to us at 860-247-2245 or call toll-free at 800-570-5544.