Getting arrested is a stressful experience. Having to wait to get out of jail only adds to that stress. A bail bondsman can speed up the process and ensure you get out as quickly as possible.
Bondsman Cocoa FL also alleviates jail overcrowding, a significant issue within the criminal justice system. This provides individuals the freedom to work, fulfill family obligations, and hone their legal strategy with their lawyer.
Bail is an amount of money set by a judge as a guarantee that a defendant will appear for all court dates. The goal of bail is to keep people out of jail while they await their trial and allow them to continue working, taking care of children or attending school.
Defendants are only allowed to post bail after they have been arrested and the court has made a determination about their charges and whether they pose a flight risk or if they are likely to commit additional crimes. The court must also determine if the defendant has previous criminal or drug or alcohol related convictions that could disqualify them from bail.
If a defendant is unable to afford the full amount of their bond, they can hire a bail bondsman to pay it on their behalf. The bondsman will charge a fee for this service which is regulated by law and typically ranges between 10%-20% of the total bond amount. This fee is non-refundable and compensates the bond company for the financial risk they take on your behalf. Sometimes the bond company will require loved ones to put up a form of collateral in addition to paying the fee, as a means of guaranteeing that the accused will make all their court dates. This will usually mean that the family member or friend puts up their house, car, credit card, stocks or other assets as security. The bond company will then call the loved one before each court date and remind them of their responsibilities. They will also make periodic check-in calls and may require the accused to visit their office in person.
A defendant can also pay cash for their own bail through a clerk at the courthouse, but this option is often only available to those with significant financial resources. Some jurisdictions have laws prohibiting bail agents from charging a non-refundable fee, but these fees are still legal in other states.
If a defendant misses a court date, the court will hold them in custody and their bail will be forfeited. The court will then attempt to locate the defendant and return them to the court for their next appearance. Depending on the severity of the missed hearing, the court can also issue additional criminal or civil penalties against the defendant.
How do I get a Bail Bond?
Once a judge sets bail during an arraignment or bail hearing, the defendant can choose to either pay the full amount of the bail in cash or find someone else to take responsibility for their bond. A friend or family member can act as co-signer for a bond with a bail bondsman to guarantee the court that they will be responsible for the defendant showing up at all required trials and court dates. The co-signer will be expected to sign a contract agreeing to this, as well as provide a piece of collateral that the bail bondsman will keep until the case is over. Collateral can be anything from a home, vehicle or credit card to stocks and bonds.
The co-signer will also be expected to pay a fee to the bail bondsman, which is typically 10% of the total bail amount. The bail bondsman will keep the collateral until the defendant makes all of their required appearances in court, at which point they will return the collateral to the defendant and the premium fee will be refunded.
When a friend or family member contacts a bail bondsman on behalf of the defendant, the bail bondsman will ask for all of the relevant information about the case including the name of the defendant, the booking number and the charges they are facing. They will then meet with the defendant at the jail in order to post the bond and get them out of custody. Depending on how crowded the jail is and what procedures need to be followed, this can take up to a few hours.
It is important to note that bailing a loved one out of jail is a huge responsibility and should only be done if the bail is very low and it is very clear that they will show up to all trial and court appearances. Failing to do so will result in the bail being revoked by the court and they will be returned to jail to await their trial date.
How much does a Bail Bond cost?
A person who is arrested can usually pay their bond to the court to be released from jail until they are required to appear for a court date. If they do not, the court will keep their bail deposit or collateral and issue a warrant for their arrest. However, the cost of posting bail can be high and a lot of people cannot afford it. A bail bondsman can step in as a third party to provide the money necessary to post bail for an accused person. The bond company will charge a fee for this service which is regulated by law and is typically 10% or less of the total bail amount. Often, the bail bondsman will require that loved ones of the accused person pledge property like a house, land, car or other valuable item as collateral on the bond.
When deciding how much to charge for a bail bond, the company will take into account several factors including the defendant’s criminal history, whether they are considered a flight risk and the type of crime they are charged with. Those with a history of repeated offenses will be charged higher amounts than those who have never been arrested before.
In addition to the premium that is paid to the bail bondsman, the defendant will also be responsible for any applicable fees and costs incurred by the bonding company and the court. Those fees will vary depending on the jurisdiction in which the case is filed and can include court costs, filing fees, fingerprinting charges, and any other relevant fees.
Using a bail bond agency is one of the best options to get out of jail. Not only will the defendant not have to put up the full amount of their bail, but they will have a professional bondsman on their side who is familiar with all of the ins and outs of the process. Additionally, a bondsman will help ensure that the accused person shows up for their court dates which is in everyone’s best interests. They will even remind the accused person of their court dates to make sure that they do not miss any.
What happens if I fail to appear in court?
If you fail to appear in court while out on bail, the judge will issue a warrant for your arrest. Depending on the circumstances, this can be a very serious situation. It can also be very costly. If you miss a traffic ticket that you didn’t plan to fight, it can result in a fine or even jail time. However, if it’s a criminal case the consequences will be much worse.
In New York, a failure to appear is called “bail jumping.” If you are caught skipping out on a court date, the court will likely charge you with an additional crime for your bail jumping. Moreover, the judge will be more inclined to increase your bail amount and impose harsher penalties on the underlying charge when you do get to court.
The best way to avoid missing a court date is to follow the advice of your lawyer, set calendar reminders and alerts on your phone and to make sure that you have a reliable transportation method to get you to and from any scheduled appearances. However, if you do miss a court date, it is important to notify the court right away and your bonding company as soon as possible. The earlier you communicate with the court and your bonding company, the more likely they will be to take your situation seriously and minimize the impact of the missed appearance.
If the court doesn’t consider your absence unavoidable or due to reasons beyond your control, they will forfeit your bond money and you won’t get it back when your case is over. Additionally, your missed appearance will be reported on your record, which can have negative consequences for any future job applications or professional licenses or certifications that you may need.
If the court does find that you did intentionally skip out on your court date, they will likely revoke your bail and arrest you immediately. This is a very serious situation, so it is important to work with your criminal defense attorney to address the issue as soon as possible. A skilled criminal defense attorney can help you explain the situation to the judge and convince them that you deserve another chance before the revocation of your bail.