Bail Bonds 101: A Guide to Different Types of Bail Bonds
Bail Bonds offer an excellent way to get yourself or your loved one out of jail. There are different bond types to suit the defendant’s charges and financial situation. That is why we created a Bail Bonds 101 guide to bail bonds. Learn about the different bond types to determine the best one for securing your or your loved one’s freedom.
Personal Recognizance
In this bond, you don’t pay a dime and wait for court hearings from home. However, you must attend court appearances. If you fail to show up, it will lead to arrest and detention until your trial. Personal recognizance primarily applies to minor criminal offenses and low-risk cases only. A defendant with a high flight risk or who poses a danger to others is not eligible for this bond.
Cash Bond
As the name implies, you can also pay for your bail using hard cash. Cash bonds are a good choice for people with enough money to bail themselves or their loved ones out of jail. These bonds act as an incentive to attend all court sessions in a case.
You get your cash back after successfully attending all hearings and case closure. However, failure to show up during court hearings can lead to bail forfeiture and the issuance of an arrest warrant.
Surety Bond
Also referred to as a bail bond, a surety bond is among the best and safest ways to secure the release of a loved one from jail. If you cannot afford cash bail, you can contact a bail bond agency to post your bail amount in exchange for a premium — typically 10 percent of the bail amount. In a surety bond, you are obliged to attend all the appointed court dates.
Property Bonds
Although not all States accept these bonds, they involve using property — primarily real estate — as collateral for bail. Ideally, the property should be worth twice as much as the bail. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the court can take possession of the property to cover the bail cost.The most significant difference between a property bond and a surety bond is the completion time. While a surety bond can take hours to settle and get a person out of jail, a property bond is more time-intensive and can take weeks due to the inspections, appraisals, and paperwork involved.
While property bonds can be helpful, you should approach them cautiously. Losing your home, vehicle, or land can affect your finances adversely after settling your legal matters.
Citation Release
An arresting officer can also issue a legal citation to free an accused person. Citation is common in traffic offenses, and you are not taken to custody. Failing to honor a court date can lead to arrest and losing your driver’s license.
Immigration Bail Bonds
These types of bonds are handy for immigrants and non-citizens of the US. They are used to secure the release of a person in custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department.
Like a surety bond, an immigration bond involves a bail bond agency posting the bail, and you pay a fee for the service. Nevertheless, immigration bonds are complex due to their international nature and require people experienced in these types of bonds.
Contact us today. We guarantee fast, affordable, and friendly service so that you can get out of jail as soon as possible and prepare for your court appearances. Call BailOption today to get started.