The Bail Bond Process
When a person is arrested and charged with a crime, they are held in some type of holding facility until bail can be set. Bail is usually set by a judge during a bail hearing and the amount varies depending on the severity of the crime. Other factors can contribute to the set bail amount, including criminal record and likelihood of leaving the area. In some cases, a person can post a cash bail to get out of jail. Oftentimes, the person does not have the available cash. In this case, there are other options available for the friends or family of the accused. What Is a Bail Bond? If the family or friends of the accused person cannot post a cash bond, they can contact a bail agent in order to secure a bail bond. Essentially, the bail agent pays the bail for the accused. In return, the bond agent is compensated 10% of the bond amount and some type of collateral is provided in case the accused breaks bail. Benefits of Using a Bail Bond Since sitting in jail while preparing a defense can cause more harm than good, posting bail is a good idea. This can allow the accused to continue working and to have regular access to a lawyer. Since bail can be costly, not many people are able to post cash bails; however, bail bonds can be used, costing a fraction of the price. As long as bail is not broken, a bail bond can get the accused out of jail and back to his or her normal life. |
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