Jennafer R.
07/31/2017
1.0
★ This agency is terrible. The bondsman had sex with my mother to get me out of jail. My mother has autism. Essentially he took advantage of a person with a...
A bail bond is a contract between the defendant and a licensed bond agent. It promises the full bail payment if the defendant doesn't go to their scheduled court hearing. Read more...
What's a bail hearing?
After someone is arrested, (then called a defendant), a bail hearing is scheduled. There, they determine if the arrested person is a flight risk. Then they set the amount of bail. If the defendant is determined to be a flight risk, Bail and Bonds can be denied. Read more...
How long after someone is arrested does it take for bail to be set?
In most states, an arrestee can be held 48 to 72 hours before a bail hearing must happen. In some states, weekends and holidays may not count in this time.
How quickly can an arrestee be issued a bail bond?
Once a bail amount has been set at the bail hearing, the defendant can contact a bail bond service. Then, they can usually get their bail bond within 24 hours of the hearing.
How much do bail bonds cost?
In most states, the fee for a bail bond is 10 percent of the total bail amount. That fee gets paid to the bail bond agent, and is non-refundable.
Is there anything a defendant can do besides get a bail bond?
Yes, a defendant could pay the full cost of bail, get a property bond, or go to court to gain release through their own recognizance.
What if a bail bond is too expensive?
A defendant then has three options. They can try to get released on their own recognizance (pretrial release), look for a bail bond agent that offers payment plans, or stay in jail until the date of their court hearing.
What if a defendant flees, or "skips bail?"
If a defendant runs away and tries to avoid their court date, they're charged with the cost of their recovery or capture. Also, the bail amount is forfeit forever … even if the defendant is recovered and brought back to court.
Can collateral be used to secure a bail bond?
In most cases, yes. Defendants can put up anything that's valuable, including property, valuable items like antiques or jewelry, private savings or retirement funds. Other people, like friends or family memgers, can also offer this collateral on behalf of the defendant.
When is a bail bond finished?
The bail bond ends when the defendant appears for the court hearing. Regardless of what happens at the court hearing, the bail bond will be terminated – as long as the defendant goes to their court date.