Though we’re all familiar with the term “bail bond,” most people have only a loose grasp of how bail bonds work. If you or a loved one ever gets arrested, you’ll want to have a firm understanding of the principles of posting bail. The alternative to posting bail, of course, stands as a longer stay in jail.
What is Bail?
After someone gets arrested on suspicion of a crime, a generalized procedure begins. The person gets taken to jail, where they then get booked. This process represents the suspect’s entry into the criminal justice system, and involves fingerprinting and a mugshot. As a part of the booking process, the suspect also receives a preliminary hearing with a judge. Based on the crime and the suspect’s track record, the judge will then set bail.
Bail represents the amount of money that the court will hold in security against the suspect’s presence at trial. If the suspect cannot post bail, they will remain in custody until the court date. Since court dates can often occur weeks or months after the initial arrest, posting bail becomes an important necessity for freedom.
What is a Bail Bondsman?
For anyone who does not have access to thousands of dollars of ready cash, bail bondsmen fulfill an important role. Bail bondsmen post the necessary amount of bail. They perform this service at a non-refundable cost of usually 10 percent the total bail. The bondsman then pays the court the total amount, which they hope to get back when the defendant upholds his or her hearing date.
To learn more about how bail bonds work, or to get yourself out a jam, contact your Kansas experts for bail bonds at Owens Bonding Co., 866-830-2663.