Some Orange County residents who have been charged with certain crimes will need to stay in jail until the trial; it’s a part of the arresting process. While this is to ensure their attendance, the trouble with that is that conditions in jail aren’t exactly the best. Plus, with the current way the criminal justice system progresses, a person may expect for weeks to months before a trial starts. No one wants to stay in jail for that long, even before they are actually convicted of the crime, so it’s fortunate that bail is available.
Bail Basics
When people think about bail, the thing that pops into their mind is the popular image from many police dramas about judges handing out bail to alleged criminals. This is usually set at thousands of dollars. The main reason for that is that bail is supposed to discourage those accused of a crime from fleeing. An accused person pays the money so that they would be able to stay out of jail while the trial is in preparation. The money is then returned when the accused stands trial.
The bail amount isn’t an arbitrary number. Depending on the state laws, there is usually a standard that needs to be followed. Judges follow these rules to determine how much the bail is to be set at. Some of the factors that determine the bail amount are how severe the crime is and the likely chances of a person not showing up for the trial. If you’ve been accused of a particularly bad crime, your bail may get expensive. Some people may not even be able to pay the bail unassisted.
How Bail Bonds Help You
This is where bail bonds come in. Agencies like JR’s Bail Bonds can be contacted by those who need money for bail. If you don’t have the money to pay for bail, you’ll need to contact a bail bond agent. They usually charge a fee to post bail for you; 10 percent the bail is the usual price. Once the bond is posted, you will be set free. Bail bondsmen are responsible for your appearance; if you miss your court date, they’ll have to pay your bail and will often hire bounty hunters to return you to jail.
No Need to Stay in Jail
With a bail bond posted, you can go back to your normal life, at least until the trial. Enjoy your freedom and contact a bail bondsman to get you out of jail.
Sources
How Bail Works, HowStuffWorks
How do Bail Bonds Work?, Bail Bond Information Center
How Bail Bonds Work, About Bail
