Did you know that the crime rate in North Carolina is 26.71 per 1000 residents? This rate is higher than the national median, resulting in a large number of arrests across the state. When a person gets arrested, they usually look for ways to seek bail. Bail, a guarantee to facilitate a defendant’s freedom, allows the person to get out of jail and return home during the pre-trial period. However, many alleged offenders and their families struggle to pay bail and look for affordable bail bondsto simplify the process. How do these bonds work, and how are they different from cash bail? Let’s compare them to understand the differences.
How Bail Works in North Carolina: An Overview
Law enforcement officials arrest people on various charges, and most of these alleged offenders are eligible for bail. Bail is a legal process that allows a person to get out of jail by guaranteeing they will attend their Court hearings on time and avoid run-ins with the law. Depending on the nature of the offense, a person may get secured or unsecured bail. Here’s how they work:
- Unsecured Bail: An offender arrested for a minor offense with no criminal record can often get unsecured bail. This option allows them to get out of pre-trial detention without paying any money. They can sign a document to assure the Court they will adhere to all bail conditions as they await their trial. However, if they fail to meet these conditions, they will have to pay a stipulated sum to the Court. Bail on “own recognizance” is a form of unsecured bail where the defendant is not obligated to pay any money to the Court.
- Secured Bail: Secured bail requires an immediate monetary guarantee. There are a few ways to pay for secured bail. The defendant can pay the entire amount in cash or provide property collateral to the Court. If they cannot afford this, they can contact a 24-hour bail bondsman to post a surety bond on their behalf. You must understand the difference between cash and surety while getting bail to make an informed decision.
How Do Cash Bail and Surety Bonds Differ?
Cash bail is an option where the alleged offender pays an upfront amount to the Court authorities to facilitate their release. If they fail to meet all the bail conditions, they may lose the money. However, if they diligently attend all hearings and adhere to bail stipulations, the Court refunds the amount after the trial ends. Many defendants avoid cash bail because it forces them to dip into their savings and part with a large amount of cash. In such a situation, they can opt for a surety bond through a bail bond agent.
A surety bond refers to a guarantee provided by a professional bail bond agent who arranges bail on behalf of their client. In this case, the defendant can pay a small percentage to the bail bond agent to cover their fee instead of paying the entire amount. As a result, they can streamline the bail process and ease their financial strain.
If you want help from a bondsman in Charlotte, NC, you can contact the experts at Charlotte Bail Bonds! They can clarify your concerns regarding bail bonds and help you streamline the release process.
