If bail is set at an amount beyond your means, you will need the services of a bail bondsman.
The booking officer may be able to suggest bail bond companies in your area, or you can simply look in the local phone book for a convenient office.
Once there, be prepared to answer a fairly lengthy list of questions and to part with some cash.
It is also important to find out whether the bail bondsman in question has a good amount of experience or not.
Without proper experience and expertise, he will not be able to deal with the court proceedings. Therefore you can ask around people to find out about his track record and experience.
Financial Risks:
Should you work with the bail bondsman on behalf of the person arrested? This is a personal decision that a bail bondsman can’t necessarily help you make. There are financial risks involved in helping a loved one post bail, and only you can determine whether you trust that person in your life to do the right thing by appearing at trial.
Worst Result:
What happens if the person you’re signing for doesn’t show up for court? While a good bail bondsman will do everything in his power to help you avoid this type of situation, sometimes, these things can happen. If your loved one fails to appear at trial, then you could end up being responsible for the entire amount of the bond.
If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bond agent is allowed by law or contractual arrangement to bring the defendant to the jurisdiction of the court in order to recover the money paid out under the bond, usually through the use of a bounty hunter. Some states, such as North Carolina, have outlawed the use or licensing of "bounty hunters" so each bail bondsman must re apprehend their own fugitives. The bond agent is also allowed to sue the indemnitors, any persons who guaranteed the defendants appearance in court, and or defendant for any money forfeited to the court should the defendant fail to appear.
The booking officer may be able to suggest bail bond companies in your area, or you can simply look in the local phone book for a convenient office.
Once there, be prepared to answer a fairly lengthy list of questions and to part with some cash.
It is also important to find out whether the bail bondsman in question has a good amount of experience or not.
Without proper experience and expertise, he will not be able to deal with the court proceedings. Therefore you can ask around people to find out about his track record and experience.
Financial Risks:
Should you work with the bail bondsman on behalf of the person arrested? This is a personal decision that a bail bondsman can’t necessarily help you make. There are financial risks involved in helping a loved one post bail, and only you can determine whether you trust that person in your life to do the right thing by appearing at trial.
Worst Result:
What happens if the person you’re signing for doesn’t show up for court? While a good bail bondsman will do everything in his power to help you avoid this type of situation, sometimes, these things can happen. If your loved one fails to appear at trial, then you could end up being responsible for the entire amount of the bond.
If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bond agent is allowed by law or contractual arrangement to bring the defendant to the jurisdiction of the court in order to recover the money paid out under the bond, usually through the use of a bounty hunter. Some states, such as North Carolina, have outlawed the use or licensing of "bounty hunters" so each bail bondsman must re apprehend their own fugitives. The bond agent is also allowed to sue the indemnitors, any persons who guaranteed the defendants appearance in court, and or defendant for any money forfeited to the court should the defendant fail to appear.