Friday 21 December 2012

Frequently Asked Questions About Bail Bonds

By William Hayes


When a person violates a certain law, he will be arrested by authorities, undergo the booking process, and will have to spend time inside a detention cell. But since every arrested person is still presumed innocent until proven otherwise, he can still enjoy temporary freedom by following certain conditions. How can an accused secure release after allegedly violating a law?

What are the different options for jail release? An arrested person could regain freedom through release on own or personal recognizance, posting bail - either cash bail or bonds. The arrested person can ask a judge to grant him own-recognizance release during the arraignment of the case. But if the judge decides against his request, he can still regain his freedom through cash bail, which could be lowered depending on the magnitude of the committed crime.

Who can post bail? Once the judge set the amount of bail needed to be granted release, the accused can post the bail on his own or ask someone, usually a relative or a friend, to post the bail for him. But if the accused is not financially-capable of posting the amount of bail, he can seek help from a bail bonds man Houston agency. The agency will assure the court that the accused will participate in all proceedings set by the court.

How to select the right bond company? Choosing the right company or agency is very crucial because not all agencies are reliable and most of them can actually give you additional headaches. Choose a company that has bondsman who are recognized and licensed by the states. Make sure to read reviews and testimonials before calling a company to avoid any mistake.

How much is the usual service fee? A bail bondman usually ask service fee that is 10 percent of the total amount of bail set by the judge. If the bail is $30,000, the arrested person should pay $3,000 as fee. Any amount more than 10 percent of the bail is unreasonable so it should not be entertained and look for another company instead.

What will happen if the accused skips court dates? After being granted temporary release, the accused should follow release conditions such as appearing in all court dates. If the accused misses a court date, the court could issue a re-arrest or the bond agency. This will also eliminate the defendant's chances of being released again through bail in the future.

Bail system benefits not only the accused, but also his loved ones or friends because tremendous embarrassment will be avoided. In order to enjoy the benefits from the bail bond system, the accused should be aware about how the process works.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment