Are you a close friend or family member of one of the thousands of people incarcerated in Florida?
If so, you may need to help them secure a bail bond to get them out as soon as possible.
The first thing the incarcerated individual will learn once they’re arrested is how much their bail is set for. This will depend on the severity of their crime and if they’re a repeat offender.
In some cases, you may be able to pay out of pocket to help them get out. But, a bondsman will help your loved one get out of jail quicker by helping him or her pay.
Florida has one of the highest rates of incarceration in the country, and if you’ve found someone you love in the position of being in jail, you’ll need to know why you need a bail bondsman.
Read on for valuable information on getting your loved one out of the Daytona Beach jail and preparing for their trial.
What is Bail?
Bail, itself, is a way to guarantee that a defendant will attend criminal hearings even if they are not in the county jail.
When someone is arrested for any crime, they will first be taken to the county jail where they will await their court hearings and trial. After the trial and sentencing, they will either be released or transferred to prison.
To avoid being held in a county jail, defendants can prepare for their upcoming hearings and trial by paying their bail. This is known as “posting bail.”
After the defendant has “posted bail,” he or she can exit the county jail and prepare for their trial and hearings in the civilian world. In some cases, depending on how severe the charges are or their past criminal history, the person may not be able to leave a certain area as a condition of their bail.
What is a Bail Bond?
Often, when someone goes to jail, their bail can be set at a fairly high amount. This is especially the case if the crime was high profile or violent. You may have seen relatively rich or famous people put in jail with bonds of hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars.
While celebrity clients may be able to pay that out of pocket, the average Daytona Beach resident can’t even afford a few thousand dollars for bail.
A bail bond is a type of loan that is given to an incarcerated individual. They may have a payment plan to pay it off until their trial date.
What Happens If My Loved One Doesn’t Show Up to Hearings After Posting Bail?
If the person does not show up to their subsequent trial and court hearings, they will forfeit the bond and will owe the entire sum, plus interest, to the bail bond company. They can also get in further trouble with the law for absconding during their hearings.
If the person was able to pay without a bail bond, they’ll forfeit the sum of money.
What is a Bail Bondsman?
A bail bondsman is a person who negotiates the terms of the bail bond with your or your loved one. This individual will typically take a percentage of the bond and that will be the fee for their services.
Once the terms of the bail bond are agreed with all parties, the bondsman will then pay the bond to the jail. This will give your loved one the right to go home until further hearings they may be required to attend.
What If the Incarcerated Person Doesn’t Have Credit or the Bail is Too High?
Many people have this issue and will remain in jail until their court day because the bond is too expensive. The person will typically have to pay a percentage of the bond, and that may be too much.
However, as the family member or friend, you can co-sign the bond to allow your loved one to get the bond. This comes with extra responsibilities. When you co-sign a bond, not only are you responsible for paying the interest and fees, but you’ll also be responsible for ensuring that your loved one attends court.
If your loved one does not attend court, it is part of your responsibility to turn them in.
Why Do I Need a Bail Bondsman?
A bail bondsman can not only help your loved one get out of jail, but they can also help walk you through the process. Having someone you love in a county jail after a crime has been committed is admittedly a confusing and distressing process.
A bail bondsman can handle the whole thing in a calm and rational manner, and help get you through this troubling time.
The bail bondsman will also handle most everything with the jail, so all you’ll have to do in the end is show up and pick up your loved one.
Getting a Bail Bond in Daytona Beach
If your loved one needs a bail bond in Daytona Beach, our experienced bondsmen are waiting to help you. We can help you get your loved one out of jail as soon as possible so they can be home while they work on their defense.
Our facility is open 24 hours so that you won’t need to worry about waiting until office hours to settle the matter. We can help get your loved one out of county jail as quickly as possible.
Contact us immediately to kickstart the process and get your loved one back.