If you are a loved one are locked up behind bars, the first and primary concern is how to get out of jail. One’s freedom is a privilege they do not want to lose regardless the circumstances that led to the incarceration. There is no get out of jail free card. In some cases, especially for first offenses, the court will release a person on their own recognizance. However, that is not always the case. During the initial arraignment, a judge will likely set a bail. Once this bail is paid, or backed by collateral or a fee, the arrestee is free to go home on good faith that they will return to court at a later date.
Getting out of jail is not always that simple. Bail is usually expensive, and for a good reason. The money a defendant pays for his or her bail is much like an investment. It shows the court trust, meaning the defendant is putting down a large sum of money or valuable assets with the promise that he or she will return to their next court date. So long as no court dates are missed, the court returns the bail money to the defendant. If the defendant misses the court date, they risk losing the bail money or assets and their freedom.
Once arrested and booked into jail, the arrestee is arraigned before a judge, who will then decide the bail amount. It is sometimes possible to know how much the bail will be beforehand based on the law allegedly broken. Contacting a bail bond agency as soon after the arrest as possible can shorten the time in jail drastically. In most cases, the bondsman can arrange to cover the bail right after or even before it is set.
Bail bond agents make the process of getting out of jail easier as they will complete all the paperwork necessary and have an in-depth understanding of the law. They can, in many cases, even get a loved one or friend out of a jail located in another city or state. The bondsman is not obligated to ensure the defendant returns to their court dates. When you hire a bondsman, they will ask for a fee, which is generally 10% – 15% of the bail amount. They may also ask for some sort of collateral should the defendant skip the following court dates and incur the court to not refund the bail amount. This collateral will not be at risk once the trial ends and the bail is no longer necessary.
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