It is entirely safe to say that absolutely no one wants to find themselves in the position of legally defending themselves in a court of law. However, should you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having to post for bail for a loved one, knowing how the process works is important.
What is Bail?
By definition, bail is a monetary exchange between the accused and the court of law for a provisional release of the accused pending trial. The amount or value may not be fixed or entirely dependent on the nature of the crime and the socio-economic status of the accused. Though these factors play a major role, the judge is the one who ultimately decides how much bail an accused should post to earn a brief reprieve.
If you are a fan of legal procedural dramas, you might find that the process is quite similar with the ones in real-life courts. If the accused is not wealthy enough to post their own bail, a bail bonds company in Orange County can help them earn their temporary freedom.
How a Bail Bonds Company Works
Bail bonds in Orange County work in similar ways as any other bail bonds services found in the country. Though there are counties that set limits for standard bail based on crime, most counties still depend on the judge’s decision on how much bail should be paid for major offenses. Since these are not cheap, those that cannot afford to post their own bail turn to bail bond companies in order to get their temporary releases.
A bail bond will issue a surety on the defendant’s behalf with a promise that the accused will be present in every court trial and will not simply jump bail and escape. A professional bail bond service earns their keep by charging a fixed non-refundable amount, usually 10% of the total bail posted.
Since the court releases an accused due to a bail bond’s guarantee, it is now the responsibility of the company to ensure that the accused will keep his trial dates. If the defendant tries to escape justice while on bail, the bail bonds company is responsible for tracking the accused down and bringing them back to court for arraignment.
The defendant’s court absence gives the bail bond agency power to hire bounty hunters and drag those who jumped bail back. They can also sue and claim assets from the defendant and those who signed as financial guarantors to cover the bail money posted for the release.
Sources
How do Bail Bonds Work?, bailbondinformationcenter.com
How Bail Works, money.howstuffworks.com
