Bail bonds may be a subject of great interest if an individual or one of their loved ones run into trouble with the law. If the person is arrested, posting bail is a way to get out of prison until their court date. The bond itself is a sum of money posted as a guarantee that the accused will indeed show up to face the judge and jury on their appointed court date. This amount of money is often more than the average person has readily available, so a bondsman will step in to cover the costs for a fee. Here are some frequently asked questions about this subject: How much is the fee? The fee which the company charges to post the get-out-of-jail money is usually 10% to 15% of the full amount. How does a person find such a company? The internet or yellow pages of a phone book should have an ample listing of businesses offering this service. Many are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What is the benefit of this practice? For the person accused of a crime, this time out of the slammer will allow them to continue working in order to generate income. It will also give them time to contact legal representatives and make a plan for their case to be defended. The benefit for the bondsman is that the company makes a living off of loaning money under these circumstances. Will this help with overcrowding of jails? Today’s jails have become so crowded that many locales have turned to tents to house inmates. It costs taxpayers a healthy sum to feed, house and clothe inmates who are incarcerated. If a person has not even been proven guilty, why lock them up? Instant imprisonment contributes to overcrowding and may provoke trauma in the accused and their family. Are the fees refundable? The fees that are charged by a bondsman are not refundable. This non-refundable policy is in effect no matter whether the individual is proven guilty or not. Collateral is often required in order to protect the company. Collateral can be property such as houses, cars, jewelry or other valuables. Is this practice common in all countries around the globe? No. The United States is one of the only nations using the bonds practices in terms of individuals who have been arrested. How long have these bond agents been around? Bond agents first appeared in San Francisco in 1898. Do all fifty states in the U.S. have a commercial bail bond practice? No. Most do, but there are four states that have declared it to be an illegal practice. Those four states are Illinois, Oregon, Kentucky and Wisconsin. In these four states, a defendant can put 10% of their own money and work out an alternate arrangement. A commercial establishment, however, is not legally allowed in those regions. Are there offenses considered to be not bailable? Yes. Some suspects are refused bail rights for a variety of reasons. Some reasons include the courts fear that the defendant would skip town, that the individual would commit more crimes or hinder witnesses or has a history of not showing up for court. Bail bonds can help individuals, the jail system and the bondsmen themselves. They can be a tool that will get you back on your feet in a troubling time-- one that you're now armed with knowledge of. Now that you've read and are informed about bail bonds, Upper Marlboro has the resources you need to put that knowledge to work. Read more here: http://www.diegosbailbonds.com.
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