If you’ve been arrested on suspicion of committing a crime, you’ll have bail set based on the severity of your crime (as determined during your trial hearing). Bail is the amount of money you are required to pay the court to get out of jail between your hearing and your trial. Felonies will carry much higher bail expenses than misdemeanors, and with increasing severity, that bail will continue to get more expensive.
If you have a family member or a friend capable of paying bail in the full amount, they’re able to pay it on your behalf. A person who makes this payment is referred to as the “surety,” as they are insuring you will show up to your trial based on the bail payment. They’ll be issued a receipt for the total amount paid. In some states, you’re required to be cleared of charges to get your bail refunded, but in other states the bail will be refunded directly to the surety once the trial is over, regardless of the outcome of the trial.
States that offer private bail allow for bonds to be issued. Bail bonds in Angleton and beyond are funds that are secured by a lender, but provided very quickly. If you appear in trial, the bail money will be reimbursed, but if not, you are then personally responsible for the funds used to secure bond. If you owe a bail bondsman, they will come after you for the full amount of the loan, just as any creditor seeks payment when money is owed to them.
What if you don’t have a surety or private bail bonds?
If you either do not have a surety who can make payments on your behalf or you are in an area that does not allow for private bail bonds, you do have some limited options. You might be forced to spend the time between your hearing and your trial in jail, which can be a traumatic experience, especially if you are not guilty.
If you want to avoid spending that time in jail, there are some options available to you. One option is to obtain a signature bond, which is a way for family and friends to claim personal responsibility for you showing up to your trial, without needing to pay the money up front. If you have three or more people who are able to sign a bond vouching for you, you can show up to court without having to pay. But if you do not show up to court, your friends will be financially responsible for paying bail. This is not an option in every type of case, especially for more serious offenses, but if private bail bonds or a single surety aren’t an option, this is your next best bet.
For more information about bail bonds in Angleton and how to proceed if you’ve been accused of a crime, contact the bondsmen at Brazoria County Bail Bonds today with your questions. We look forward to assisting you.