Anyone who gets arrested and imprisoned will seek all available options to be released. Some crimes allows the payment of a certain amount (referred to as bail) which serves as an insurance between the defendant and the court. This amount, however, is usually too large for the defendant to settle by himself. Fortunately, there are bail bond companies like Bob Block Bail Bonds that can instantly provide the money so the defendant can post the bail, which in turn becomes a bond.
Bail bond is a bond used for posting bail; it will enable the defendant to immediately acquire the needed amount to secure freedom while his case is still ongoing. Through bail, courts are more assured that the defendant will return to court while his case is still in trial. For criminal cases, criminal bail serves as a guarantee for the payment of penalties or fines sentenced by the court. On the other hand, civil cases issue civil bail bonds to ensure payments of debts including interest.
For any criminal offense, the defendant is first apprehended by the police. His time in custody will depend on the severity of his crime and the regulations of his state. For petty crimes, the offender is typically released and given a written notice to appear in court on a specific date. The worst scenario for heavier crimes would be remaining in custody until the court issues his hearing for the bail.
The amount of the defendant’s bail is first determined by the presiding judge. If he is unable to pay the amount, he may seek assistance from a bail bondsman to post his bail in exchange for a payable bond. Bail bondsmen usually issue the bond with 10% of the bail amount as the standard fee. The remainder of the bail sum is secured by the bail bondsman in the form of an equivalent collateral (e.g. property). If the defendant does not own enough assets that can be used as collateral, the bondsman can also accept assistance from the defendant’s relatives to settle the bond.
Once negotiations with the bondsman are completed, he will then post bail for the defendant while in possession of the collateral. The defendant is then permitted to be released. On his hearing date, if the defendant appears in court, the bail bond is lifted and his collateral is returned to him or his relatives. The bondsman keeps 10% as profit for his service. On the other hand, if the defendant does not present himself, the bail bond is collected by the court. The bondsman will then utilize the collateral to settle the bail amount. Generally, the collateral must be higher in worth than the bail amount because it serves as the bondsman’s safety net in case the defendant did not appear in court.
Bail bonds provide the means for individuals to be released (while the case is ongoing) through collateral exchange. Through bail bond agencies, they are able to post bail even if they are unable to pay the needed amount immediately.
