Q.

What happens when a person is arrested?

A. When an individual is arrested for a crime, usually that person will be taken to a local law enforcement station for booking. After they have been booked, the defendant has several options for release. Which may include:

Q.

What is the procedure for bailing somebody out of jail?

A. Usually, a friend or relative will contact a bail bond company by phone. The bail bond company will need basic information such as; the jail location's city, defendants name and other basic information. You can arrange to have the bail agent come to your home, jail or other location. The entire process is usually completed in less than 1 hour. For most bail bonds, it will be necessary to sign 2 simple documents. The process is very fast & simple.

Q.

What is the cost of a Bail Bond?

A. In most states, the premium is 10% of the bail bond. For example, if the bail bond is $5,000-then the premium charged by the bail bond company is $500. This premium amount is non-refundable. The Department of Insurance strictly monitors the premiums charged. The bail bond companies have virtually no flexibility in what they can charge. Only in unusual circumstances should there be any additional fees. Make sure that the bail bond company explicitly states any additional charges.

Q.

What is collateral?

A. Sometimes, the bail bond company will receive collateral in order to ensure that the defendant appears in court. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail bond company has some leverage to convince friends / family / defendant that the defendant needs to appear in court. When the defendant is unable to be located, the collateral may be used to pay the court a "forfeiture" (failure to appear).

Collateral may take different forms. These may include:

Q.

Do I always need collateral for a bail bond?

A. No. Most of our bonds are written with no collateral. We look at many  factors such as the length of time at a job, length of time at current residence, credit rating, character, type of crime and similar factors. These factors are considered for both the defendant and the bond co-signer. We realize that not everyone has a perfect background.

Q.

If I use collateral for a bail bond, when do I get it back?

A. When the case has been completed and all obligations are satisfied-the collateral must be promptly returned. The law strictly mandates this.

Q.

If I bail somebody out, what is my responsibility?

A. When you bail somebody out, you take full responsibility that the defendant shows up in court. You are not criminally liable, but you are civilly liable. However, keep in mind that most bail bond problems are easily and quickly resolved. Rarely, do problems escalate beyond a simple phone call.

Q.

What happens if the defendant is not bailed out?

A. Usually, the defendant will remain in custody until the matter has been resolved in court.

Q.

What happens if a defendant is bailed out and fails to appear in court?

Q.

Is a Bail Bond Company required to bail out everyone who asks?