Wondering how you’re going to come up with the money that you need for bail? Bail bond companies are there so you don’t have to. They’ll put up the money for the bail, and you’ll only have to put up a small percentage of the total amount.
The Eighth Amendment established the nation’s judicial system and the structure of the bail process, as it is known today. It specifically says: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”
There are two types of bonds for people detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service: delivery bonds and voluntary departure bonds. Delivery bonds seek to provide insurance that the defendant will attend his or her court dates, and voluntary departure bonds allow a person undergoing deportation to voluntarily leave the country.
Not sure what to do next when you’re arrested? It can be a very trying time, but you don’t have to worry. A bail bond company will walk you through exactly what needs to happen next, including stressing how important it is for the arrestee to show up in court.
If bail is not affordable to you, hire a bail agent to take on the responsibility of the full amount of bail. When contacting a bail agent, be sure to know the defendant’s name, what jail they’re in, their booking number, and the specific charges.
Did you know that the amount of bail money is actually set by the presiding judge and is not influenced by the bail bonds industry? The amount is usually determined by factors such as the severity of the offense and history of the defendant.
Most U.S. states have law enforcement on the local as well as the statewide level. State agencies typically pick up the slack for small, underfunded rural areas. Can you guess which state has no statewide law enforcement arm? That would be Hawaii.
Cash bonds require full payment in cash or property. Once paid, the defendant is released with a date to return to court. If the defendant returns, the amount is refunded; if he or she does not return, the money is forfeited to the court.
One of the reasons why bail bond agents require a friend or relative to cosign is to help ensure that the defendant appears in court. Since the friend or relative has collateral on the line, the hope is that the defendant will feel compelled to appear.
The terms "bail" and "bond" are sometimes confused. Bail is the amount of money set by a court for a defendant who has been arrested to be released from jail. If that defendant cannot pay the full amount of the bail, a bonding company can borrow the money. The bonding company then posts a bond on behalf of the defendant.
After a person is arraigned, it can take a year or more for the case to be heard. If bail is not paid, the defendant must remain in jail during this time. Paying bail allows the individual to get out of jail while awaiting trial.
Murder will out -- or will it? Even though the books are never closed on murder cases, some murders are never solved. These five high profile murders are very cold cases: the Black Dahlia murder (1947), the Bob Crane murder (1978), the 1985 murder of Dian Fossey and, of course, the Jack the Ripper killings (1888).
In 1677, the British Habeas Corpus Act stated that a magistrate could discharge prisoners of their own recognizance so long as “sureties” were provided. The surety sum (bail bond) was to be at the magistrate's discretion and could be implemented so long as the prisoner was not accused of a non-bailable offense.
A DUI attorney is a criminal defense attorney who specializes in defending those individuals arrested and accused of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, and arranging bail for their release.
Getting arrested and sitting in jail until your trial means putting your life on hold, something that most jobs simply won’t understand. A bail bond can help you get out of jail until your trial, which means you don’t have to worry about losing your job.
Court proceedings can be slow, which means even an innocent person accused of a crime could spend months behind bars awaiting trial. One way to avoid lengthy incarceration is to post bail.
The system of posting money or property in exchange for temporary release from prison pending a trial dates back to 13th century England. The practice of offering bail bonds arose out of a need to develop equality between the classes when individuals were accused of a crime.
Conditions of bail may include: no contact with the alleged victim or witnesses; no further violations of the law, possibly complete sobriety, if the charge involves drugs or alcohol; an alcohol assessment if appropriate, restrictions on driving; periodic, or daily reporting to some official.
A court-appointed judge can place limits on the period in which your bond can be raised. This is most often seen when a requisite amount of time has passed and the requirements of a legal agreement have not been met.
What amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of a person arrested for a crime, including the right to demand bail if the offence warrants it? If you guessed the sixth amendment, you're right.
A bail bond company that issues a $100,000 bond for a defendant generally pays only 10 percent of the bail. If the defendant leaves town, the bail bond company has to pay the entire bond. A bounty hunter can save the bail bond company thousands of dollars or more by finding the defendant.
Thoroughly knowing and abiding by established bail bond laws will assure you a smooth legal process whereby you can expect to be released from jail in a timely manner. Bonding agents will work with you or through your attorney to see you free from jail as quickly as possible.
One thing to understand about bail and bail bonds is that whether the bail is kept by the court or not is not predicated on whether the person is guilty or innocent. Any cash bonds and/or property liens will be returned (minus the bond company’s fee) if the person complies with all court requirements and shows up on all court dates.
Bail bonds play an important role in the American judicial system. They help ensure that those who’ve been accused of a crime but not yet tried or convicted are free to work and able to continue with their lives.
Some bail bonding companies will require property to be pledged as collateral for the bond. This usually occurs in circumstances whereby the judge has set a high bail amount or the person arrested is considered a high risk for fleeing.
Bail bondsmen sometimes hire bounty hunters. Can you guess why? Bondsmen are liable for the money they provide the court. It is in their best interest to reacquire people who fail to appear for their court dates. Bounty hunters locate and deliver bail jumpers to the proper authorities.
Attorneys who appointed by the courts to represent individual who want an attorney but are not able to afford one are considered public defenders.