We at Alpha Bonding have been working in the bail bonds business since 1992, so we know the system inside and out. In the past 30 years, we have worked with people of all levels of familiarity with the criminal justice system, from those facing their first arrest to repeat offenders. If this is your first time dealing with an arrest (of yourself or of a loved one), then there are a few things you should know. Keep reading to learn a few key facts bonding companies like ours want you to be aware of.
- Purpose of Bail – First, you should know what bail is for and how it works. The purpose of bail is to make sure the defendant shows up for their trial—the person pays a fee to the court to be released until their trial date, then they get the money refunded to them once the trial is complete.
- Pitfalls of Cash Bail – However, bail prices are often too steep for the defendant to pay out of pocket. If you or your loved ones can’t come up with the necessary cash to pay the full bail amount, the arrested person will have to spend the whole time until their trial in jail. Not only is this extremely unpleasant and often traumatizing, but it makes it much harder to prepare a good legal defense.
- Where Bonding Companies Come In – Fortunately, bonding companies like ours offer an alternative for those who can’t pay the full bail amount in cash. Instead, you can pay our team a smaller fee (a percentage of the total bail amount) and offer another asset as collateral. We’ll then pay the full bail amount on your behalf to get you or your loved one released. If you fail to appear for your trial, we’ll take the collateral, but if you show up when you’re supposed to, then you won’t have anything to worry about on that front.