How Bail Works

 

Bail is money or other security, such as a bail bond, provided to the court to obtain a defendant's release from jail, and to ensure his/her appearance in court. Bail is not a fine or court fee.  The purpose of bail is to ensure that a defendant attends all court dates.  The defendant must attend all dates while out on bail.
A family member or a close friend can post bail.  A person who post bail is responsible for making sure that the defendant shows up for all court dates.  A qualified indemnitor is financially responsible for the bail and must guarantee they will pay the full amount of the bail if the defendant fails to appear in court.
The paperwork can take approximately 20-45 minutes, depending witch county the defendant is located.
The premium on a bail is set at ten percent of the face value of the bond.  The bonding company serves as a surety, to insure the court that the defendant will show of for his/hers court date.  The fee you pay the bondsman is NON-REFUNDABLE.  It works much the same way as an insurance policy premium.  Sometimes another bail bond agency will claim to be able to to the bond for a lower price, this is called "Price Shearing" and is against the law.  Each bail bond agency is regulated by the state and can NOT set their own price for bail.
If the defendant fails to appear in court, the court will forfeit the bail and demand payment from the bail bond agency, in witch case the indemnitor will be responsible for any legal fees, attorney fees, and fugitive recovery cost. 
The defendant must get a written letter from the court or lawyer who is representing you, then you must forward the letter to our office for final approval.