Streamlining Your Company

Posted on: 29 March 2019

Do you know someone who was recently arrested and who wants to get out on bail? Are you shocked at the high cost of bail? Whether a person is guilty or innocent, bail may be set at anywhere from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars, depending on a variety of factors. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford these prices even if they are actually innocent. This is where finding a bail bondsman will come in handy. Instead of posting bail directly, you'll go through this intermediary. If this is the first time that you've had to deal with this kind of situation, the answers to some of the questions you might have can be found below.

How much will it cost to post bail? 

This will depend somewhat on where you are located and the bondsman who you contact. In general, with bail bonds, you can expect to pay between 10 and 15 percent of the bail. If the judge has decided that bail is set at $3,000, then you'll need to have $300–450 ready to pay the bondsman. If you do not have the amount in cash, you may be able to put up something you own as collateral — for instance, a piece of real estate or a vehicle that you own. 

Will this money be returned later? 

If you are able to post the full amount of bail yourself, this money will be returned once the accused makes all of his or her required court appearances. But with bail bonds, this money is not returned, even if the case winds up being dismissed not long after bail is posted. This fee goes to pay the bondsman for his or her time and services rendered. The only way to get all the bail money returned is by being able to post the full amount in cash yourself, something that is not possible for many people. Even then, the bail money may not be returned for months or years until the case is resolved. Going through a bail bonds agency is going to be the least financially straining option for most people.

When will the person be released from jail? 

This will depend heavily on how busy the court system is and how soon you contact a bondsman about bail bonds. If someone is arrested on a Friday, they may not get out until Monday, even if the bondsman goes down to the courthouse immediately. On weekends, there is typically both a lack of personnel and a possible influx of people being arrested. If someone is arrested during the week, however, it may only be a few hours before the bondsman is able to secure his or her release from jail.