When a person is arrested, a bail may be set that allows him or her to be released. It is a financial agreement, which is made through a bail bond agency, and a person is released on the understanding that he or she will be present for future court dates. When a person is arrested, he or she will be taken to a police station and be booked. A police official will take his or her fingerprints, take a mug shot of the person, and collect other information during the booking process. A person’s personal belongings will also be taken until the person is released.
How Bail Agencies and Bail Bondsmen Work
When a person does not have enough funds to post bail, he or she can use a bail bond agency. A bail bond agency will arrange for a court to release the person arrested in exchange for money or other collateral, which can include equity of a home.
The bail agency is required to ensure a person is present for future court dates. If a person does not show up for his or her scheduled court date, then a bail agency may hire a bounty hunter to track the person down, or a bondmen will sometimes act as a bounty hunter and track the person. The United States is one of the only countries on the planet that allows bounty hunting.
When a person hires a bondsmen, there is usually a small fee that is required for his or her services. In most cases, the fee is not able to be refunded even in the event the case is dismissed after the person posts bail.
In order to cover the funds that are required for posting bail, a bail bondsmen will usually take out a security against the person’s equity or assets. If the person fails to show up for court dates, then a bondsmen has the right to sue the person for the funds that were posted for the bail bond.
When a person decides to use the services of a bail bondsmen, he or she will need to know certain information about the person who was arrested. Family members will usually hire a bail bondsmen on behalf of the person who has been arrested. A bail agency will usually need the following information to begin the process:
- Where the person is in custody
- The booking number
- The full name
- The date of birth
- The amount of bail that is required for a person to be released
In the event a person does know the amount of bail or the detainee’s booking number, then a bail bondsmen will be able to get it by contacting the jail.
What Will a Bail Bondsmen Accept for Collateral?
In the event a person does not have enough cash for bail, then a bail bondsmen will usually accept other forms of collateral. Here are some types of collateral a bail bondsmen will accept:
- Vehicles
- Bonds
- Stocks
- Credit Cards
- Homes or other real estate
- Jewelry
- Bank accounts
- Personal credit
When a person does not have enough cash to post bail, a bail bondsmen can be useful because he or she usually accepts other forms of payment.
Bail bond agencies are commonly used because a bail bondsmen is accustomed to working with the jail system, so they have knowledge that makes the process less stressful and easier than if a person tries to post bail on his or her own.
John Keefe is an avid blogger and professional bail bondsman in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. John is passionate about sharing information through his online blogs and provides OKC bail bonds services to his local community while working with C & K Bail Bonds.