Like many other topics arising from the legal community, bail bonds in Angleton and beyond inspire a particular mystique. Very few people understand how they work. This overview will help describe the bail bonds process and how it allows people to be released before trial.
The overall concept of bail bonds
When a suspect is arrested, he or she will normally be held in jail until trial. Bail is the alternative to that scenario. The judge will set an amount to be paid so the individual can be free until it is time to report for trial.
Many times, the amount set will be above the financial resources of the suspect or friends and family members. A bonds agent is hired in this instance to negotiate with the court so the defendant can be released pending trial in exchange for securing the bail amount with cash or collateral, including investments, real estate, credit cards or bank accounts. Normally, insurance is the backup funding for the bail amount unless the defendant has significant assets.
How bonds work
Normally, a friend or family member approaches the bond agent. That individual will give the agent the name of the person in custody, where they are being held and their booking number. If the individual contacting the agent does not have the amount needed for bail, then the bail agent will ask the jail for that figure.
Once retained, the bail agent pays a fee to release the defendant and charges the defendant or family members an extra fee amounting to 10 percent of the bail amount. During negotiations, personal assets of friends, family or the defendant are considered in securing the required bail. The extra fee is how the agent makes money and it is not refundable, even if charges are dismissed later.
Terminated bonds
Bonds can also be terminated if defendants do not meet the conditions of their release. This can lead to higher bail amounts when re-arrested, and normally, bail bonds will not be an option. By violating conditions, defendants basically waive the rights they gained when they secured release.
Bail bond agents are responsible for assuring the defendant appears in court on the day of the trial. If the individual fails to show up, the agency can hire a bounty hunter to track down the suspect. This is done to satisfy the bail bond agent’s responsibilities regarding the defendant and to secure any monetary loss.
Bonds are also terminated if a defendant is re-arrested during release. The bond agent will no longer have liability on the bond, but will lose the premium that was paid to secure it. Oftentimes, the agent will pursue the defendant for this amount or write off the loss. There is also the option of securing release the second time with an additional bond, but that only raises expenses for the agent.
There are many steps and complications to securing bail bonds in Angleton, which is why you want to hire a knowledgeable agent. Contact Brazoria County Bail Bonds today for further guidance in this area.