A judge may decide to set a bond amount during a trial to allow for the release of the defendant. Few people want to spend time waiting in jail for their trial, so securing the finances for the bond becomes a top priority. The money spent on the bond becomes collateral for the defendant to return for the trial date. If the defendant makes a run for it, the money is forfeited and an arrest warrant is sworn out. When deciding between cash bonds and surety bonds in Angleton, TX, knowing the pros and cons of each approach can mean a world of difference.
The court accepts cash bonds from relatives, friends and other people known to the defendant. Cash bonds must cover the entire amount of the bond set by the judge. This cash is then held for the duration of the trial and then returned at the end. While this keeps things simple, the individual paying the bond will lose their investment if the defendant doesn’t return to court. Paying off a bond in cash may also affect the judge’s decision on fines and court costs. There’s an implied ability to pay with a cash bond, which means if the defendant is ordered to pay fines and court costs, they may pay a higher amount than normal.
Most defendants use surety bonds when securing their release. These bonds work through a third party and require a fee to the bondsman, usually 10% of the bond amount. The fee is not refundable, but the bondsman then puts up the bond amount to free the defendant. This option is often pursued by those who can’t afford the full fee of a bond to be tied up during court proceedings. It also provides a direct recourse of action should the defendant not return for their court date. In this case, the signer of the bond is responsible for the full bond fee, but can enlist the aid of the bondsman to catch the fugitive. Most bail bondsman have fugitive recovery agents on retainer to track down those defendants that decide to skip town. These costs are likely to be passed onto the bond holder, but they are usually still less than paying back the cost of the original bond.
When deciding on how to finance bail, consider surety bonds in Angleton, TX. A bond can be paid in one of two major ways; either through direct cash or through a surety bond held by a bail bondsman. Cash bonds are quick, but they tie up the money for the duration of the trial and leave little recourse to the individual fronting the money should the defendant decide to become a fugitive. Surety bonds require a non-refundable fee paid to a third party up-front, but puts some of the flight risk on the bail bondsman. Should the defendant skip town, the bondsman already has connections to fugitive recovery agents in place ready to get the individual back in court for costs that the bondman passes on to the bond holder.