At Bail Hotline, we are constantly getting questions like, “What exactly is a bail bondsman’s job?” Today, we hope to answer these questions to give you a better idea of what a bondsman’s role is in releasing people from jail and how bail works in a general sense.
There are hundreds of bail bond agencies in the State of California. Why? Because bail is an integral part of the justice system, especially in a state as large as California. But like any other business, the more of them there are the more of them you should avoid. However, there is one agency that has more than 25 locations in a number of counties.
What happens when you post bail? What are the side-effects if a defendant skips a court date? We will discuss these questions in detail throughout this post, though the most important thing to know is that bonds work best when a defendant shows up to court. If not, the defendant and the person who signed the bond could be in for some serious trouble.
The biggest question people have about bail is the type of collateral bond companies accept. To help you better understand payment methods and risk factors, we’ve put together this list that outlines the most common types of collateral used for securing bail bonds.
Judges set bail based on a number of factors, many of which we will outline in the following paragraphs. The amount they set is important for you, the person responsible for bailing someone out of jail, because it determines the type of collateral you will need to secure a bond.
“Due process” is a process, after all, and being arrested is no different. Law enforcement officers have to follow the same steps to charge and book an accused person before putting them in jail. Next, a number of factors come into play that determine whether or not that person will stay in jail for a longer amount of time.
Here is a brief rundown of what you need to know before posting bail with a bail bond agent.
Before Calling
Before you call a bail bond agent, it’s important to have a few pieces of information on hand. Here are a few questions you need to be prepared to answer to move the process along:
Here are some need-to-know tips for defendants and friends/family members of defendants in need of a bail bond:
“Bail” vs. “Bonds”
Though they are used for the same reason, there is a big difference between bailing someone out of jail and getting a bond. Bail is cash, or when a person pays the court directly. A bond, or “surety” bond, is when your friends or family members use a third party (i.e. a bondsman) to front the money for bail.
If you’re in a pinch and need a bail bond, it’s important to know the ins and outs of bail surety, the process, and how much a bond will actually cost you. This is why Bail Hotline has put together a comprehensive list of bail bond tips to get you started, whether you’re a defendant or concerned friend trying to get someone out of jail.
If you’re ever in a situation that calls for bail, it’s time to do some research. This is because bail bonds are complicated and can vary based on the crime, your record, and several other factors. To help get you started, Bail Hotline has thrown together a crash course in bail bonds that covers all the need-to-know info.