Someone you love got arrested and you are frantic to get them out of jail. You are understandably worried and afraid for them being in jail and what comes next because of the arrest.
The first thing you want to do is get them out of jail. If someone gets accused of a crime and arrested, before they can get out of jail, they must appear before a judge and see if the judge will grant bail.
Many need the help of bail bonds financing to afford the cost of bail and release from jail.
Do you hope to make bail for someone who is currently locked up? Read on to learn more about financing a bail bond and the process to get the bail in place.
How Does Bail Work?
When a person gets arrested for a crime, they are typically put in jail awaiting their hearing and court appearances. Often a judge will grant them bail. Bail is a payment that’s made to the court as insurance that the accused individual will show up for future court appearances.
Once arrested, a person can get released on their own recognizance, which means they don’t need to pay the court bail. For some arrests, there is a set bail amount and you can pay it without appearing before a judge.
In most cases, however, once arrested, it’s necessary to appear before a judge to have the bail amount set. Then if you want to be released, you need to pay the amount to the court.
Typically bail amounts are set at high enough amounts to incentivize the accused to show up for future court dates.
How Is a Bail Amount Set?
You might be wondering how the judges and the court decide on the amount for bail.
As already mentioned, sometimes there is a predetermined bail schedule that’s followed. If not, then a judge must decide on the bail amount. Judges will consider a variety of factors when determining bail.
First, a judge will consider whether the person might be a flight risk. This means the judge will evaluate the likelihood of the accused actually showing up for future court dates. The higher the risk the person presents, the higher the bail is likely to be, or no bail might be set at all if they present too high of a risk.
If the person presents themselves as someone who others rely on, they are more likely to be responsible for showing up. If they have connections in the community like friends and family, they are more likely to act in a responsible way.
The judge will also consider the severity of the crime in question. They will consider whether allowing the accused to be freed on bail presents a risk to the community.
Of course, too, the judge will consider the criminal history of the accused.
Once all of these factors are considered, bail will be established.
Paying for Bail
Many courts require bail to be in cash. Some courts will also take a credit card for the bail. If you are unable to pay the bail yourself, then you can seek the assistance of a bail bondsman.
The bail bondsman can work with you to arrange bail bond financing if you can’t cover the actual bond or even the percentage expected from the agency. Be prepared, as you will likely need some form of collateral.
Down payments for bail can be as low as 5%, with a rate of up to 15% of the North Caroline bond.
Working With a Bail Bonds Agency to Make Bail
If you can’t pay the bail yourself, you can seek help from a bail bond agency. These are companies that are considered private lenders. You enter into a financial agreement with them and they, in turn, pay your bail for the accused. The accused or someone who acts on behalf of the accused can enter into this agreement.
There are really two parts to a bail bonds agreement.
First, you must agree to pay a percentage of the bail, often that is 15% of the bail. If you are unable to pay this percentage, often bail bond companies will offer you financing. More on this later. Once you pay the percentage of the bail, the bail bond agency covers the rest, which then allows the accused to be released.
The second part of the agreement is that you are insuring the person being released on bail will actually show up for their court dates going forward.
Bail Financing
If you are unable to pay the bail, often bail bond agencies will finance for you. Like any kind of financial agreement, you will be obligated to pay that amount back to them in installments. If you need to finance this amount, you also will likely pay an interest fee for this too.
The 15% previously mentioned is the cost you pay of the total bail amount by using a bail bond service. It is how the bail bond company makes money.
Sometimes, depending on your credit and employment, you may be required to provide collateral to qualify for a very low down payment such as low as 5% down. Many bail bond agencies required that you put up a house as collateral.
No Show to Court Date
Remember, as part of being granted bail and as part of the bail agreement with the bail bonds agency, the accused must agree to show up for their appointed court dates.
What happens if they don’t show up?
First, the bail bond agency is going to work hard to remind and assist the accused in making sure they do attend court.
If they don’t attend their court hearings, the court will revoke their bond. This means the bail bond agency has lost the money they put up for the bail.
The bail bond agency can then come to collect that bail from you. They can seize whatever you have signed for collateral to recoup the funds they paid for the bail.
Understanding the Process of Bail Bonds Financing
Certainly, you don’t want anyone you love to be stuck in jail if you can get them out. You can use bail bonds financing to help you pay the bail.
It’s important to know this is a financial obligation and you’re required to pay it in full if the accused does not show up for their court dates. The good news is that Charlotte Bail Bonds, LLC provides flexible payment options with no credit checks and zero interest rates on all payment plans.
If you need help making bail or understanding the bail process, we can help you. Contact us today for a free consultation with a licensed bail bonds agent.
