Bail bonds is an industry in the United States that depends on aspects of the US legal system. This business has gained some notoriety due to certain films and television shows. There are many misconceptions about the money and the funds involved in these transactions.
What Is Bail?
When the local, state or federal government accuses someone of a crime, the judge in the case may be asked to require bail for the accused. The prosecutor may feel that the person is dangerous or is likely to flee the charges whether they are true or not. In such cases, he or she will ask the judge to demand that the accused pay a certain amount of money which will be forfeit if the accused does not show up for the trial. Bail does not indicate guilt, only the likelihood that someone may try to flee the charges. Failure to pay this bail will result in the accused remaining in jail until the trial begins. Often, the bail money is returned as long as the accused properly attends legal proceedings.
What Is a Bond?
Requested bails are often too high for any one person to pay in a short enough period of time to avoid jail. In such cases, the accused may ask a bail bondsman to pay the bail for him. The bail bondsman will pay the courts bail bonds or make special arrangements with the court guaranteeing payment. The bail bondsman will charge the accused between 10% and 15% of this total for the service. This money is not refundable.
What Are Bail Bondsmen?
Bail bondsmen are persons or corporate entities in the business of providing bonds for criminal defendants. They essentially act as lenders in a situation which most banks and other financial bodies feel is too dangerous for their investment. They are highly sought after by defendants in these cases because their quick action can secure their clients’ release from jail in hours rather than the days it might take them to assemble the funds required.
Bounty Hunters
If a person flees the jurisdiction in which they were charged after posting bail, the bondsman is responsible to the court for the entire amount. In these cases, most jurisdictions permit bail bondsmen to hire bounty hunters to bring the accused individuals back so that they can face trial. Bounty hunters typically work with local law enforcement by tracking criminals and then turning over their whereabouts to police. When these efforts are successful, the bail bondsmen are relieved of the requirement to pay the entire bail. For this reason, bail bondsmen are willing to pay bounty hunters considerable sums at times.
The practice of posting bonds is controversial. In some states, the hiring of bounty hunters has been declared illegal, which has made the work of bail bondsmen less inviting financially. In most countries the practice of bounty hunting is entirely illegal and the bail bonds industry is less lucrative because bails are much smaller in general.
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Guest blog post by Bail Bonds DIRECT, who suggest it’s best to familiarize yourself with the standards regarding bail bonds if required and contacting them for specialist advice (Bail Bonds DIRECT contact info)
garyhall434
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