Bail Bondsman Work
When someone is arrested and held in jail, they may be released on bail. Bail is essentially an amount of money that the person pays to guarantee they will return for all court dates. If they don’t, they risk losing the money and could be re-arrested. People who don’t have the money to pay their full bail can seek out help from a bondsman who can post a bail bond on their behalf for a fee. This process can save friends and family from having to give up their hard-earned cash or put up property as collateral.
When a person wants to use the services of a bail bondsman, they will fill out paperwork that gives a detailed account of their financial situation and what they’re willing to put up on the bond as collateral. They will then meet with the agent to discuss all of the details and sign the documents that secure the services of the San Diego bail bondsman. The contract will make it clear that the guarantor is responsible for the accused person’s appearance in all proceedings. The agent will also discuss what to expect should the defendant fail to show up for court and what happens next.
In the case of a failed appearance, it is the responsibility of the bail bondsman to get the defendant back into court and this can involve finding them. They will often hire bounty hunters to track down the person and bring them back to court in order to ensure that the bond is exonerated.
How Does a Bail Bondsman Work?
This is what makes the system such a source of controversy. Many critics say that bail is unfair and allows rich people to stay out of prison while poor people languish in jail until their trial is over. While it is true that the bonding fees are often too high for low-income people, the problem goes deeper than that and is a result of the inequity in our criminal justice system.
Bail bondsman are paid a fee, usually 10% of the total bail amount for their services. This fee is nonrefundable. In the case that a defendant fails to appear in court, the bondsman will forfeit their fee and any collateral they’ve secured for the bond. If the defendant is returned to court before the trial, the bail bond is exonerated and the collateral is returned to the pledgor or co-signer.
Some states also allow bondsmen to collect interest on outstanding debts from defendants who don’t return to court. This can add up quickly, making it important for the defendant to stick to their bail conditions and attend all scheduled court dates. If they skip bail, the bondsman will have to pay the courts in full and this can also impact any liens on property that have been signed over for the bond. Bail agents will try to recoup their costs by going after the person who skipped out on them and sometimes even seeking out the collateral that was used to secure the bond.