Receiving a phone call from a loved one who is incarcerated is never a pleasant experience, but it is one that many parents, spouses, siblings, and others have had to deal with—sometimes many times. A bail bondsman is your best option if you want to bail a loved one out of jail.
A bail bond agent can guide you through the procedure and answer any questions you may have about posting bail. This article has explained various ways to bail someone out of jail.
Collect vital information
This is an important step that many people skip. When a person receives an unexpected call from the local jail, they frequently forget to inquire about the bond amount. If your loved one calls you before the initial hearing, you’ll have to wait until after the court to see if they will be released on bail and, if so, how much it will cost.
You’ll need the separate charges your loved one is facing, as well as the exact location where your loved one is being detained, in addition to the bond amount. You might not know the individual’s birth date if you’re a buddy of the person who was arrested. When you speak with them, be sure to ask for this information.
Check to see whether the individual has been detained
After being arrested, a person will either be released or placed in jail. If they are imprisoned, they will be required to appear in court for an arraignment, which will take place after their release.
The date of the arraignment is decided by the day of the arrest: if it is a workday, the arraignment may take place the next day or the following two days. If the arrest took place over the weekend, the person would have to wait until the following Monday before being released from custody.
Check to see whether any of the information you want is available on the court’s website
Whether you haven’t gotten a phone call from the individual but are aware that they have been arrested, you might check to see if the court maintains an online record of the booking procedure.
A lot of jails and prisons preserve real-time information on the status of persons who are being held in custody, so you may be able to search for the person by the last name to discover their location and booking status.
Regardless of the reason for their detention, the individual will be required to complete the booking procedure before being allowed to post bail. Photographs, fingerprints, and paperwork information, such as the person’s address and other personal information, are required as part of the booking procedure.
Depending on how busy the agency is, it is possible that someone may have to wait many hours before going through the booking process.
Obtain the services of a bail bondsman
You can contact a local bond dealer once you’ve written down all the necessary information. Give the situation’s specifics and your loved one’s complete name. The bail bondsman will inform you of your alternatives.
Typically, consumers choose to utilize a surety bond. The firm may either complete the release of the individual who has been arrested in a different state themselves or use a transfer bond and work with a bail bonds company in the state where the arrest took place.
What are your obligations as a cosigner?
You become the cosigner if you use a bail bond business to secure the bond for someone else. You’re pledging as a cosigner that you’ll make sure the defendant shows up for all of their court hearings.
This is true whether you pay the premium yourself or raise funds from others to post the bond. The bond business will initially try to locate and collect from the defendant if they fail to appear in court. You are liable for repaying the bondsman if the agent cannot do so.
Ascertain that the individual shows up for their court date
Bail amounts are simply insurance plans that ensure the person will appear in court on their scheduled day. The bail money is returned to you in full after the defendant shows up for their court date. Defendants who cannot afford their bail can make arrangements for their release through a bail bonds person in most, but not all, states.
The bonds person will guarantee the remaining amount to the court if the defendant fails to appear for any court appearance in exchange for the defendant putting up a percentage of the entire bond, generally 10%.
Keep an eye on the situation
After being freed from jail on bail or with a bond, they will have to appear in court. Other times, plans may be made to relocate to another state. It is critical to obtain the services of an attorney before doing anything or going anyplace. An attorney will be able to clarify all that has to be done.
If someone is released on bond then drives or flies back to their home state without dealing with the charges or hiring counsel, a bench warrant for their arrest will most likely be issued.