Be Sure You Truly Understand What Bailing Someone Out Of Jail Entails Before You Do It
Posted on: 29 February 2016
It can be hard to know what to do when a loved one needs to be bailed out of jail, if you have never done it before. It is important to realize that there are many different types of bail that the courts charge, and understanding them is essential when it comes to bailing someone out of jail. The following guide walks you through the basic information you need to know about posting bail for someone who has been arrested.
A Cash Bail
If your loved one has committed a petty crime, the court may decide that they only need to pay a cash bail to be released on bond from jail. A cash bail is a specific amount of money that must be paid upfront to the court system. The money will be returned when the person shows up to court on their trail date. If the person skips out on their trial, the court will get to keep the money and a warrant can be issued for the person on the basis of failure to appear in court when required to do so.
An Unsecured Bail
There are times when someone may have gotten overly intoxicated the night before and the court system will release them on their own recognizance once they sober up. The person will still need to show up to court on a specific day, but the court may not require them to pay a bail to be released because their crime was so minor. The person will have to pay fees and fines to the court system if they fail to show up to court, as well. You will not have to do anything but give the person a ride home when they are released from jail, if they are given an unsecured bail.
A Surety Bail
If someone has committed a significant crime, the court system may require them to pay a large amount of money before they can be released from jail. A bail bond company can be utilized to help the family get the money they need to bail the person out of jail. The bail bond company requires a certain percentage of the bail to be paid in advance for the bondsman to use as insurance that the person will show up to court when they are supposed to. If the person fails to show up, the bondsman will have to pay the entire bail amount and will then come after the person that signed for the bond for the rest of the money. If you put up your home or car as collateral, it could be taken and sold to get back the bail amount, if your loved one skips out on court.
It is important to make sure that you know the state of mind of the person that you plan to bail out before you bail them out. You want to be sure that they understand how important it is for them to show up to court on the day of their hearing and how much trouble it could get you into if they do not. If you feel that they may skip out on their court date, you may not want to agree to bail them out just to be sure that you do not end up having to pay for the whole bail in the end.
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