Everyone has heard of bail bonds, but do you know what a bail bond is? Do you know how bail bonds differ from bail?
If someone is arrested for a crime, they will be kept in jail until their scheduled court date or until they are released on bail. Understanding more about bail and bail bonds West Chester PA, can help you know what to do if you are ever in this situation.
Bail Defined
Bail is a specific amount of money that serves as insurance between the person who is in jail (the defendant) and the court. As a defendant, you have the option to pay your bail in cash. Unfortunately, many people can’t do this.
Because bail is set at high amounts, most defendants aren’t able to post it by themselves. This is when a bail bond, provided by a bail bondsman, comes in.
Bail Bonds Defined
Bail bonds are types of surety bonds offered by surety bond companies through bail agents or bail bondsmen. These individuals secure the release of the defendant from where they are being held. There are two types of bail bonds you can acquire.
One is a criminal bail bond used during criminal cases and guarantees that defendants appear for trial when called by the court. It provides a guarantee for payment of any penalties or fines the defendant is charged with.
The other type is a civil bail bond, which is used in civil cases and guarantees the payment of the debt, plus costs and interest that are assessed against the defendant.
How Bail Bonds Work
The judge will set the bail amount. If you are unable to pay this on your own, you seek help from a bail bondsman. To get a bail bond, you usually have to pay 10% of the total bail amount.
Once you have paid this, the bail bondsman will secure the remaining bail amount as collateral. If you don’t have enough collateral, the bondsman may ask friends or relatives to help cover the bail amount. Sometimes, the extra cash payment and full collateral are necessary for the bail bond to be acquired.
If you need a bail bond to get out of jail, it is important to find a reputable company. While this takes some time and effort, it is worth it in the end. This will help ensure you can get the necessary funds to be released from jail, which is usually the ultimate goal.