How Does Bail Work? Everything You Need to Know About Bail Bonds

Every year, millions of people find themselves in jail.

Of course, nobody wants to think about a friend or family member going to jail. But, in the event that it does happen, it’s important to know how to post bail and get them out.

If you’ve been wondering, “how does bail work?” keep reading. Everything you need to know about bail bonds is explained below.

What are Bail Bonds?

If an individual is arrested, a judge will set a bail amount that they must pay before they can be released.

There are a few different types of bail bonds a person can use to get out of jail, including the following:

• Cash bail
• Property bonds
• Federal bail bonds

One of the most common types of bail bonds, though, is known as a surety bond.  

What is a Surety Bond?

A surety bond is often used in the case of more serious crimes when the bail is set to an unaffordable amount. 

A bail bondsman provides surety bonds. Bail bondsmen use their reputation and relationship with insurance providers to cover the cost of bail for defendants.

When it comes to surety bonds, the defendant and a surety will both sign a document. This document states that the defendant will appear in court on a specified date and at a specified time.

A surety is an individual or organization that promises to take responsibility for the debts of another. In this case, the surety agrees to take responsibility for making sure the defendant shows up in court.

How Does Bail Work?

The process of obtaining a bail bond is actually quite simple.

In order to post a bail bond, a friend or family member of the defendant will contact a bail bondsman.

Then, either the defendant or their friend or family member will have to pay a bail bondsman 15 percent of their bail amount.

The rest of the defendant’s bail is then secured in the form of collateral (stocks, jewelry, a house, a car, etc.), and the defendant can return to their home and wait for their court date.

What Happens Next?

Once the defendant has been released from jail, they are responsible for appearing in court on a specified day. 

If the defendant follows through and appears in court, the bail bond will be dissolved and the bail bondsman will return the collateral. The bail bondsman will retain the 15 percent fee.

If the defendant does not appear in court, they will forfeit their bail bond. In this case, the bail bondsman will then use the collateral to pay the court the remaining bail amount.

Are You in Need of Bail Bonds in North Carolina?

You now know more about bail bonds and can confidently answer the question, “How does bail work?” So, what’s next?

If you’re in need of fast, discrete, and reliable bail bonds, contact us at Absolute Bail Bonding today.

We’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are happy to answer any questions you might have regarding bail and bail bonds.