4 Basic Questions About Bail

If you are trying to get a friend or family member out of jail, you may need to quickly get up to speed about the basics of using bail. It's a way to pay cash in order to have someone released from jail before their court date, and the cash used to pay for bail is used as collateral. Here are some common questions you may have about bail.

Is Bail Always Offered To Accused Criminals?

It's important to know that bail will not always be an option to get someone out of jail, which depends on the crime they are accused of that their criminal past. It's common for bail to be offered for non-violent crimes, when the person does not appear to be a risk of skipping town, or if they can prove they are a good person and follow the court orders to return on their court date.

One problem with bail is that the money needed to post bail can be set very high, which does not make is affordable for those looking to help out and pay for it

What Do You Do If You Can't Afford Bail?

Your best option will be to reach out to a local bail bond agency, who can provide you with the bail bond you need in exchange for a paying a fee. Visit your local bondsman and give them some basic info about the person that you are looking to get out of jail. They can look up the case based on their booking number, and let you know their charges and bail amount that is being requested.

Will Bail Bond Fees Be Excessive?

Each state has their own laws about how much you will have to pay for a bail bond fee. Some states cap it at a notable percent of the total amount requested for bail, while others have caps based on the maximum amount you'll have to pay. Make sure you are aware of your state's laws so that you have a good idea of what you will be paying to request a bail bond.

How Soon Will The Person Be Released From Jail?

Expect the process to happen within a matter of hours, since a bondsman will work directly with the jail to pay the bail for you. Once released, your friend or family member will need to return for their court date or you risk losing the collateral provided for the bail bond.

Contact a company like Justice Bail Bonds to learn more.

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