The Ins and Outs of the Bail Bond World

For folks who’ve ever had experiences with the criminal justice system, the bail bond process is considered essential because it allows people to be released before their court dates. This process has been used countless times to help family members, friends and associates bond their people out of jail in a timely manner, the better for everybody to prepare for the pending court case.

What Is a Bail Bond?

A bail bond is an agreement between a defendant and the court system in which he pays a specified sum of money to be released from jail. If the defendant appears at the court appearance, the money is returned. If the defendant doesn’t show up to the court date, the money is forfeited to the court and an open bench warrant is created.

When people apply for bail bonds York County PA, they are attempting to use an instrument offered by the criminal justice system to alleviate the stresses that are associated with being arrested and charged with a crime. 

What Kinds of Bail Bonds Are There?

There are several types of bonds, each for specific circumstances. Factors such as the nature of the crime or crimes involved, the defendant’s means and the criminal history of the defendant inform the type of bond will be sought. There are scenarios, such as capital crimes like murder, in which no bond is issued by the court.

Cash Bond

This is the simplest and most common type of bond, in which the defendant pays the full amount of money that the court determined as the bond amount. Some court systems will accept checks or credit cards. The cash bond is the most expedient way to get a defendant released from jail. 

Property Bond

In this case, the defendant puts up property in lieu of cash. In the event that the defendant misses the court date, the property is immediately seized and an open bench warrant is issued. In some cases, the value of the property must be higher – perhaps double – as the bail amount for the bond to be accepted.

Surety Bond

In this scenario, a third-party, like a bail bondsman, assumed responsibility for the defendant. Typically, the defendant pays the third-party a low percentage of the total bond amount, to be returned to them after their court appearance. If they fail to appear in court, the third-party foefeits their bond money to the court and goes after the defendant for the money that they lost.