Law

Basic Questions About the Bail Bond Process

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When you or a loved one gets arrested, it’s important to understand how the bail process works. However, most people don’t really think about this process until an arrest is made. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions with the answers you need:

How does the bail process work?

Once an individual is arrested, a lengthy court process is set in motion, and there may be weeks or months between the time of the arrest and the actual court proceedings. Bail is a set amount of money that the defendant pays as a guarantee that when released, s/he will return for all court dates. The judge uses a variety of factors to determine how high the bail amount will be.

What if I can’t afford bail?

It’s fairly common for individuals to find it difficult to come up with enough money to satisfy the bail amount. This is one reason that bails bonds are available. A bail bonds agency pays the bail, so defendants can continue working or spending time with family during court proceedings.

How do bail bonds work?

A bond is basically a contract between the defendant and the bonds agency. For a 10 to 15 percent fee, the bonds agency pays the court the entire bail amount. The defendant may use a variety of things as collateral, and if the defendant attends all court dates and abides by the terms of the bail, the bonds agency will get the bail amount back.

How can I get in touch with the bail bond agency?

Fortunately, most police stations have a list of nearby bail bonds pennsylvania agencies. It’s important to contact a bonds agency as soon as possible because it does take time for the bonds process to complete.

It isn’t uncommon to have questions about bail bonds when you are a loved one is arrested. Most people don’t think about bail until it’s necessary to pay it.