Become Educated About Bail Bonds

You may not think that you are going to get in trouble.  You may not think that your friends or loved ones are going to get in trouble, but do you know what to do when this happens?  Are you familiar with the bail bonds process and do you know what to look out for to make sure that you aren’t taken advantage of?  Do you know how to tell a good bail bonds agency from an unethical one?

There isn’t always a great deal of time to make the decision of who is going to be your bail bondsman.  There isn’t a crystal ball telling you when you will be in need of a bail bondsman. It is important to find a reputable company that can answer your questions and that is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Take things from all different sorts of resources, do your research and make sure you make an informed decision.  As a defendant you want to be really clear on what your rights are and what is expected of you if you utilize a bail bondsman.  You will want to know what the laws are in your state, or at the very least, trust your attorney and your bail bondsman to know the laws for your individual state.  If you have a DUI, the charges and consequences are going to be different then if you are involved in a domestic dispute.

There are some things to be wary of when choosing a bail bondsman.  Top Triggers that should make you find someone else:

1.     The agency offers you a discount of lower than 8%

2.     The agency offers you a discount because you are an illegal

3.     The agency illegally solicits your business

4.     The agency utilizes practices that are unethical

5.     The agency is not able to answer your questions sufficiently

While not everyone who is arrested will be permitted to post bond, many individuals will be.  This bond is usually 10 % of the total bond amount.  This amount can be more depending on the state where the bond is to be paid.  If you don’t have the full 10%, communicate this clearly with the bond agent.  Sometimes, payment options can be discussed or credit cards can be used.  Remember that the lines of communication between you and the bail agent need to be open and honest.  They will request certain information from you (your name, address, why the person is being held, date of the arrest along with other information) In the case of dealing with immigrant status it is of vital importance to know your “A” number.   Talk with your agent, trust your agent and be open and forthright with the information requested. Ongoing communication will speed up the bail process.

Becoming educated about bail bonds seems like an odd topic to learn.  However, it is something we should learn before we need it.  It is impossible to predict when a friend or loved one will need a bail agent.  Be informed, ask the right questions and know your rights.