How Do Bail Bond Companies Work?
You can hear that someone was involved in a case but later released on bail by the court in certain instances. If you have not been a victim or had a similar experience in the past, you may be curious to know what it means to be released on bail and what companies are associated with it. That’s because the concept may seem complicated for someone who hasn’t needed bail.
There is confusing information about bail, and you may not know what it takes to be released on bail. However, you don’t have to worry because it’s not too complicated. Read on to better understand:
● What is bail?
● What is a Bail Bond company, and how it works?
● Roles of Bail bondsmen
What Is Bail?
If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime, the court may decide to release you before the final day of trial. However, there are two factors that the judge will be concerned with.
First, the judge can consider if the defendant is trustworthy to be left to join the community. Second, can the defendant be trusted to appear on the next court date. In some instances, the court doesn’t trust that the accused will appear on the next date of the case hearing.
To deal with such people, the court may decide that they ensure their return to the court by requesting a specific amount of money. The amount is the bail. It does not have a limit, but it can range from a low $1,000 to a high of millions. The amount you pay may depend on the nature of the crime you’ve been charged with. If you’ve been charged with a DUI, you may have a higher amount set. In that case, you should also consider how a DUI lawyer can help.
What Is a Bail Bond Company, and How Does It Work?
A Bail bond company helps make the accused legally get out of jail as they await their case’s proceedings. If the accused has a bond and cannot pay the bail, they can approach a bail bond company to give a surety bond. The surety bond acts as insurance that the accused will show up on the next case date. The owners of bail bond companies are also known as bail bondsmen.
The jail bond is not as high as many tend to believe. The bail bond companies operate under the strict regulation of the state. As such, they may try to limit the amount, but it’s mostly 10% of the total bail. To understand how the bail bond companies work, you can consider the bail bondsman’s following duties.
Roles of Bail Bondsmen
Bail bondsmen are professionals who assist the defendant in getting out of jail and appearing only during the court proceedings. Below are some of the responsibilities of the bail bondsmen in a bail bond company.
Completion of Legal Documents
The bail bond company completes legal documents. They do that after the bond application’s approval and start collecting 10% of the amount. After completing the paperwork, the court approaches the company on matters relating to the bail issue. They represent defendants on issues of bond.
Assessment of the Defendant’s Qualifications
Before representing the defendant on the bond, the company must be sure that they’re dealing with the right person. They can do that by checking the credit score of the defendant they are representing. Notably, the company must ascertain through the bail bondsmen that the defendant will appear in court when required.
Lastly, the defendant should seek a lawyer for additional legal help. That’s because having knowledgeable people to handle their legal troubles is vital. Look for a lawyer with experience in other cases like yours. Your lawyer will also help you navigate other essential aspects.
