Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Information About Bail Bonds

By Julieann Raigosa


The Basics of Bail Bonds

Many people are clueless about bail and bail bonds. Despite the lack of widespread knowledge, it is not complicated. After being arrested and locked up, a person can give the court money, or bail, to ensure a temporary release until an established court date. Bail can be refused by the courts though; if a person is seen as a flight risk or an extreme danger, the court typically will not accept bail. To make bail, the court frequently accepts bail bonds. There is more than one type of bail bond available, and it depends what situation you find yourself in as to what type you would use.

Bail bondsmen are people who provide the service of issuing bail bonds. There is a standard fee associated with receiving a bail bond. A bail bondsman can refuse to help because he will not make enough on a bond to make it worth his time and effort. The accused person's bail is posted in cash by the bail bondsman to the court, then the accused must repay the bail bondsman. Another way to view a bail bond is as a loan. To secure payment, the bail bondsman will take collateral from the accused. Collateral most commonly is a mortgage placed against the defendant's property.

It isn't unusual for the court to set a high bond. When setting bail amounts, the courts look at the crime committed, the history of the accused, and other factors as well. Only after you appear in court on your assigned day will your bail be refunded. If you fail to appear, you'll not be refunded.

A surety bond is one specific type of bail bond. Courts prefer this bond over others because a friend or family member puts up the cost and will typically take steps to ensure the accused attends. Another bail bond option is a property bond; this is when the courts use property as collateral to release the defendant. This bail bond is only an option if the accused has time to wait for the judge's approval and the appraisal of the property being held. If the accused has no prior record, they may qualify for a Release on Own Recognizance bail bond. As long as the defendant has a clean record and clear ties to the community, this bail bond may be an option for them. A final option for someone on bail may be an electronic monitoring bracelet. With a tracking bracelet, the defendant can still go to work and function within an approved location. Attempting to leave the approved area alerts the authorities.

There are many options available today for a person who requires a bail bond. The most important thing to remember, though, is that a bail bond is a loan.




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