In case you get arrested for a serious offense, the authorities will not release you from custody easily. They must be sure that you will show up in court for all the necessary hearings and trial. If you can prove that you will not run away, the court can release you with your own recognizance. It is also better if you have many contacts in the area that need you to stay in the community.

If you are not released on your own recognizance, you typically need to pay a certain amount in bail. Bail is an amount of money that you deposit to the court as a guarantee that you will be present for every court proceeding. But, if you do not show up in court, the money you deposit to the court will be forfeited. Sometimes, the court sets a large bail due to the severity of the crime and the uncertainty of the authorities if the defendant will be present for trial.

Here are some examples of criminal offenses that commonly make bail:

  • Burglary/Robbery
  • Grand theft
  • Stealing cars
  • Domestic violence
  • Physically abusing of others
  • Threats of criminal activities
  • Assault and battery
  • Breaking and entering
  • Driving under the influence (DUI)
  • Found in possession of illegal drugs
  • Selling illegal drugs

The Bail Process

  1. You are referred to as a defendant if you get arrested and booked for a crime.

  1. You are held in jail while waiting for your first court appearance, which is also called an arraignment. It is a brief hearing, in which the judge sets an amount of bond that you must pay before you are released from jail.

  1. As soon as the judge gives the bond, you can pay the full amount of the bond. Another person can also pay the bond for you.

  1. If you or no one you know has enough money to pay the amount of bail in full, you can call a bail bondsman. By doing this, you may pay a small percentage of the bond to be able to get out of jail.

  1. For the bond to remain active, you must show up at all court dates. Neglecting to appear may lead to loss of money, collateral and your freedom.

If you lack the money to give the entire bail, the court will allow you to go give a bail bond. An insurance company promises a bail bond by paying the entire amount of the bail if you do not show up in your court proceedings. Through bail bonds in Jacksonville, Florida, the insurance company will charge a premium for giving the bond.

So, if the court sets a $10,000 in bail, the insurer may charge a 10 percent premium to post your bond. The insurer will also ask for a guarantor to sign the bond. This guarantor will promise to pay the insurance firm the $10,000 if you fail to appear.

If you show up at trial, the court will return the bond of the insurance company. In turn, the insurer will keep the $1,000 bond for posting. But, if you try to flee and have no plan on showing up, the insurance company loses the $10,000 with the court. The firm may also hire investigators to find you and bring you to court so that bond will be returned to the company.

What If I Cannot Afford Bail?

If your money is not enough to pay for bail, you must wait in jail until your court date. A much better option is to hire an agent of bail bonds in Jacksonville, Florida.

When you decide to get a bail agent, indicate your full name and birth date, the jail location, the charges and booking number, as well as the amount of bond.

Do I Need To Provide Collateral?

It depends on the amount of the bond and the complexity of the charge. A bail bondsman may ask for collateral, which is an inclusion to any paid premiums. It could be an asset, property, or cash. The purpose of collateral is to make sure that you show up in court.

How Long Does It Take To Get Out Of Jail After The Bail Is Paid?

Bail bonds in Jacksonville, Florida agents are available 24/7. This means the response time is fast. But while the agent can post your bail as fast as they can, it depends on certain factors such as how crowded the jail is during the time you are waiting to be released.