BAIL PROCESS EXPLAINED OVERVIEW
Bail is quite simply some form of money deposited or pledged to a court in order to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the entire amount of the bail deposited.
For the very wealthy, bail is really a very easy process. It is merely depositing with the court system the amount required for the specific charges. If the bail is $10,000, that amount is delivered to the court system in a process known as "posting cash bail".
However, most people do not have such large amounts of cash or the ability to afford such a large deposit (or don’t want their money tied up for the duration of a long legal process). For them, and for most people, the more reasonable alternative is for a Surety Bail Bond to be posted by a licensed bail bondsman; that means that a bail agent gives the court a promise to pay the full amount of the bail should the accused fail to show up for their court date and not be found in a reasonable period of time. The bail agent charges a fee (see below for details) and “secures’ the bail bond to protect themselves from having to pay the full amount in case the defendant skips bail.
THE TWO PARTS OF THE BAIL PROCESS AND HOW EL DON CAN HELP
Money:
The money issue may seem crass, but it is a reality of the bail bond process. Bail bondsmen are regulated by the Department of Insurance and, except for a few select cases, must charge the same amount. – 10% of the bail amount. If union members, government employees (including military) or people with private attorneys are contracting a bail bond they may receive a 20% discount and pay only 8%. Please call El Don Bail Bonds and let us try and get you the discount!
**IMPORTANT**
El Don Bail Bonds offers INTEREST FREE financing on the money part of the bail bond. If we trust you with showing up in court, we can trust you with making payments. Contact us to see what type of financing plan we can offer YOU in your unique situation
Security:
The bail bondsman also has an obligation to protect themselves in case the accused turns their back on the case and fails to show up in court. One way of doing this is using real estate, automobiles or other things of real value as ‘collateral’ to guarantee the defendant’s appearance in court. In very large bail amounts or when the defendant poses a significant flight risk, the bail agency may have to secure the bond with collateral. However, at El Don Bail Bonds, we often do not need collateral and can secure the bail bond with what is known as a “signature bond’.
** El Don Bail Bonds offers these ‘Signature Bonds’ in most cases ** What that means is that when a family member, a close friend or a colleague of the defendant wishes to post bail, we can use their signature as security for the bail bond. Basically, they co-sign for the defendant and take responsibility for all their court appearances and bail obligations. Cosigners typically need to be working or have some form of income and/or assets to qualify. The application process is very simple and we never violate the trust of a co-signer by calling their work or otherwise divulging the situation during it. It is much easier to qualify than it may seem so give us a call and get the very fast process started.
IMPORTANT FINAL NOTES ABOUT THE BAIL BOND PROCESS
The final result of the case — guilt or innocence — is not relevant for the bail bond agreement. So long as the accused shows up for all court hearings, and all fees and premiums have been paid, the terms of the bail bond have been satisfied and the co-signer/guarantor has NO liability. In other words, should the accused be found guilty, but shows up to face the charges, they have completed all the bail agreement requires and the co-signer is released from their guarantee.
The bail bond only lasts through the court case. Should the accused plead, or be found guilty and is sentenced, the bond is exonerated and the co-signer is free from the obligation of guaranteeing the bond. THE CO-SIGNER IS NOT REPSONSIBLE FOR THE DEFENDANT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE SENTENCE. So, for example, if you signed for someone who was sentenced to 5 days of roadside trash pickup, and they decided not to go, it is not your responsibility anymore. Your guarantee that they show up ended with their sentencing.
PLEASE CALL US IF ANY OF THIS IS NOT CLEAR OR IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN SUCH A CONFUSING SITUATION AND EL DON BAIL BONDS WILL HELP YOU SORT THROUGH ALL OF THEM!