The criminal justice system can be harsh and heartless. Law enforcement officers have to perform their jobs regardless of the personal circumstances of the people they arrest. Too often, people with loved ones waiting at home will find themselves booked and locked up in an unfamiliar and hostile environment. Thankfully, bail bond companies can step in to help navigate the release process and help people get out of jail and back home fast.
What Are Bail Bonds?
When law enforcement officers suspect someone or catch someone committing a crime, the person is arrested and taken into custody. The individual is taken to the police station where they are placed in detention while paperwork, a background check, and any additional investigations are performed.
Some individuals who are thought to have only committed minor violations will be allowed to post bail and go home once the preliminary paperwork is completed. Others who are thought to have committed more serious crimes may be transferred to jail before attending a bail hearing.
Bail is a sum of money paid to the court by a defendant as a show of faith that they will attend all subsequent court proceedings. When the defendant ‘skips bail’ or fails to show up in court, the court confiscates the bail money. Bail sums can be set extraordinarily high to deter people from missing their court appointments.
Bail can be unaffordable to most people who do not have large sums of money on hand at short notice. This is where bail bonds come in. Bail bond companies take over the responsibility for the full bail amount with the condition that the defendant commits to attending all required court hearings. In return, they charge the defendant a small percentage of the sum as their fee.
Organize Bail Bonds Online
In the state of California, it is possible to arrange bail bonds online to get someone out of jail. This is a convenient option for grandparents, parents, or long-distance partners who want to help their loved ones but are too far away to make a personal trip to the bail office.
Federal charges and immigration charges are not eligible to be handled with online bail bonds. However, online bail bonds are available for charges such as assault and battery, driving under the influence, domestic violence, traffic offenses, and various other criminal charges.
While online bail bonds are only available in California, the person paying for the bail bond can be anywhere in the country. As long as the defendant is charged under the California judicial system or held in a California detention facility, online bail bonds can be arranged.
To bail someone out of jail using the online process, you will generally need to provide the full name, birth date, and citizen information of the defendant, as well as contact information for both the defendant and payer.
If a payment plan is put in place, the payer may also need to provide employment information and references. Payment is usually in the form of credit or debit cards, bank deposits or transfers, PayPal, or Venmo. Some bail bond companies even accept cryptocurrencies like BitCoin.
Choosing a Bail Bond Company
According to the law, it is necessary for bail bond companies to charge a 10 percent fee on the bail sum. Nonetheless, some bail bond companies have creative payment options that can help payers to lower their costs. One way is to use a surety company that allows the bail bond fee to be reduced if the defendant hires a private attorney and makes payment within three days.
That said, many bail bond companies take advantage of the eagerness of defendants to get out of jail and leverage on the lack of transparency. People may find themselves hit with hidden fees such as processing fees, notary fees, travel expenses, annual premiums, and financing interest. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the bail bond company you choose advertises a clear flat rate.
A good bail bond company should also offer a wide array of payment options and be willing to discuss a personalized payment plan that works for your financial capabilities. Certain companies are committed to getting defendants out of jail for as little as one percent down payment.
Another feature of a service-oriented bail bond company is its hours of operation. People often have trouble finding a bail bond company that will handle cases during the night. Yet, a large number of arrests are made at night and this can lead to defendants facing dangerous situations in overnight detention. In these cases, a dedicated bail bond company that provides 24-hour service will be your best bet for avoiding a night in jail.
Getting arrested is a nightmare in itself. Having to worry about bail just makes the problem worse. By enlisting the help of a reliable and friendly bail bond company, individuals can get out of lock-up and back to the people that they love.