Bail bonding is the process of hiring a bail bond company to cover the cost of a defendant’s bail. They do this by charging a premium, no more than 10% of the original cost of the bail, to the defendant. Over the years, a number of different myths and misconceptions have arisen that people have come to believe about the bail bonding process. Here are three of them.
- Bail and bonding are a type of punishment. Paying bail or a bonding service isn’t a form of punishment. Instead, bail is a guarantee that you will return to all your mandatory trial dates after you are released from jail. For many people, bail is a high expense that would cause a significant financial strain, which is why bail bonding companies work with them to help lessen this strain.
- Bail is guaranteed. Bail is set based on a number of different factors, including the charges and the defendant’s criminal history. It’s possible that a judge would determine that a defendant is too much of a flight risk and may deny bail altogether. Even if a judge has set bail, a bail bonding company may reject an application for services based on the defendant’s history.
- After paying bail, you have complete freedom. Both the courts and your bail bonding agency will have certain rules for you to follow upon posting bail. These rules can differ depending on your charges, but they all include the obligation for you to show up to all court dates. They also commonly include abstaining from certain substances, such as alcohol, though this can also depend on your charges.
At Alpha Bonding, we provide 24/7 availability for defendants and their families seeking bail bonding services. Call us if you need help posting bail.