Are Bail Bonds Considered Public Record?
Are Bail Bonds Considered Public Record? Yes, They Are. However, Not All The Information Is Made Public! Defendants in criminal cases almost always ask, “Are bail bonds considered public record?” Where as others want to know if they can find out whether or not someone has posted bail. These are similar yet different situations. The answer is yes. Bail bonds are public record. However, the only information that is public will only be just the defendant’s name and the bail bond company’s name. If there is a co-signer, the name of this person may also be public information. Keep in mind the crime itself is typically public record in the United States. Now, you could be wondering something like this: If my friend is arrested, will they let me know if their bond has been posted? Is this public information? The answer to this question is also yes. This information is public. The information on who bailed that person out may not be readily available. However, the information on whether or not bond was posted is available. Depending on the jail, you may also be able to find bail information online. If not, you can also call the jail to figure out if someone was able to post bail. Did You Get Arrested? BailOption Is Here To Help! BailOption is your trusted partner to help you post bail fast and quiet as possible. Contact BailOption for a consultation. We will answer more questions about bail bond posting. We can also answer your questions about self incrimination. Have Police arrested you in Florida? BailOption is here for you. BailOption will not only post your initial bond but will help you with any increases you face as your case progresses. Give us a call today so that we may help you. If you would like to learn more about how we can assist you, contact us today through the website. You can also call us directly at (800) 524-0684. BailOption representatives also speak Spanish! Information detailed in this article is not construed as legal advice. The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only.
Judges Consider 5 Factors When Setting Bail Amounts
Bail Bonds 101: Judges Consider 5 Factors When Setting Bail Amounts. After an arrest, the arrested person must post bail to secure a release, in most cases. The bail acts as security that guarantees the judge that the person will attend all court hearings. However, defendants don’t realize judges consider 5 factors when setting bail. Florida courts have a standard bail schedule already set in place by the Florida Supreme Court and the chief judge of the local court. At any time upon being booked the defendant can post the bail amount assigned for their accused crime. However, you can choose to remain in jail until you see a judge the next day regarding your bail bond amounts. This hearing held the next day is typically called a 1st appearance hearing. At this hearing the presiding judge has the discretion to lower, raise, or leave your bail amount the same based on the facts of your case. Judges Consider 5 Factors: 1. Your Criminal History Judges consider whether you have a previous criminal record when deciding on the bail amount. This important because it’s the judge that the heat from the Chief Judge of the Court and the public if you commit crimes while being released on bond. If you are a first-time offender, the judge may set a lower bail amount than they would for someone with a history of crime. If your records show that you have a history of not showing up for court hearings, the judge sets a higher bail. Alternatively, they could deny you bail altogether. 2. The Nature of the Crime Judges use a bail schedule. This scale will indicate the amount of bail required based on the severity of the crime you have been arrested for. Bail schedules base their recommendations on state and federal laws. More severe crimes typically attract higher bail amounts. That is why you will find that the bail paid for felonies is significantly higher than for misdemeanors. You secure a release if you pay the amount indicated on the bail schedule immediately on booking. However, you have to go to court if you want a lower bail. 3. Your Community Ties Your ties to the community also play into your bond amount. It’s used to determine your likelihood of fleeing after your arrest. The judge will want to know whether you have a family and if they stay in the area. They will also look into your employment status. If your family is close and you have a job. If you do, you are a low risk of being a flight risk. The judge also considers whether you contribute to any community development programs and your reputation in the neighborhood. A good reputation means you are trustworthy. Thus, the judge may set a lower bail. 4. Financial Status The aim of bail is not to overburden the defendant with costs. However, it is designed to guarantee the defendant appears in court. Thus, the judge will use your financial status to determine the bail amount of your bond. The judge will consider whether you have a job and the type of job you have when setting bail. Judges also consider factors like your net worth. The judge will also look at any financial obligations you have before deciding on bail. The court will look at child support, car payments. In addition, the court will review mortgage payments and credit card debt. 5. Risk to the Public The judge must consider whether there is a significant chance you may harm the complainant or witnesses in your case before setting bail. People charged with violent crimes, sexual assault, or physical assault are likely a danger to the public.If the judge decides that you pose a public safety risk, they set a high bail amount or deny you bail. The judge may also decide to hold you in custody if they deem you a danger to yourself. BailOption Is Here To Help! BailOption is your trusted partner to help you post bail fast and quiet as possible. Contact BailOption for a consultation. We will answer more questions about bail bond posting. We can also answer your questions about self incrimination. Have Police arrested you in Florida? BailOption is here for you. BailOption will not only post your initial bond but will help you with any increases you face as your case progresses. Give us a call today so that we may help you. If you would like to learn more about how we can assist you, contact us today through the website. You can also call us directly at (800) 524-0684. BailOption representatives also speak Spanish! Information detailed in this article is not construed as legal advice. The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only.
I Posted Bail. What Happens To My Money?
I Posted Bail. What Happens To My Money? Bail is an essential component of the legal system. After posting bail and getting out of jail, every defendant asks, “I posted bail. What happens to my money?” Defendants awaiting trial can resume their everyday lives after posting bail. That is, as long as they promise to attend all their hearings. But where does the bail money go after the conclusion of the case? Discover the answers to this and other questions below. What Is Bail? Bail refers to the money that a defendant gives the court so that they can go free while awaiting trial. In other words, bail is simply insurance for the court in case you fail to appear for the hearing. Bail can also be an incentive for you not to skip any trial in the future. Bail is important because court cases can take months or even years to conclude. What Is the Bail Process? The court will use a series of steps to know the exact amount of money that defendants have to post. Factors determining bail amount include the type of crime and the history of the defendant. The process starts when a police officer arrests you and books you in a police station. The booking report indicates the details of your arrest and alleged crime. If the crime is minor, you can post bail immediately. If you don’t have the money or the crime is serious, you may have to wait for a bail hearing. The judge will examine the details of your case and decide whether to set bail. You can bail yourself out, get help from a loved one, or use a bail bond agent. What Happens to the Bail Money? The court will keep the bail money until the conclusion of the case. If the defendant honors all court summons, the court will return the bail money to whoever posted it. In a few cases, the court can deduct fines from the bail money. If a bail bond company posted bail for you, you might have to pay a premium to the company. The bail bond company will not refund the premium regardless of whether you win or lose the case. But if you post the full bail amount on your own, the court will refund the money after the completion of the case. What Happens to the Bail Money If the Defendant Is Acquitted or Charges Are Dropped? Once the court dismisses the case, you can get back all your money provided that no outstanding fines and fees exist. But you may not get the money immediately in some jurisdictions. In fact, the bail money may be part of your release agreement and can go to the court or the plaintiff. The court will provide a receipt with your information when you are posting bail. Once the case concludes, you will present the receipt to the court to process the refund. If you posted bail in the form of a check, the court would mail the check back to you. Sometimes, the court can ask you to pick it up. Some courts accept cash bail, even in the form of credit card payments. Once the case concludes and you honor all summons, the court will return the total amount that you paid in cash. Another option is the property bond, in which the defendant uses their property as bail payment. In this case, the court will have a legal claim over your property as long as the property’s value is equal to or greater than the bail amount. Once the case concludes, the court’s claim of ownership over your property ends. But if you don’t honor the court summons, you forfeit ownership of your property. Where Does the Money Go? You will forfeit the bail amount if you don’t attend all court hearings. The courts will then disperse that money to the state or county depending on the state law. The money can also remain in the judicial system to assist the court in financing its operations. BailOption Is Here To Help! BailOption is your trusted partner to help you post bail fast and quiet as possible. Contact BailOption for a consultation. We will answer more questions about bail bond posting. We can also answer your questions about self incrimination. Have Police arrested you in Florida? BailOption is here for you. BailOption will not only post your initial bond but will help you with any increases you face as your case progresses. Give us a call today so that we may help you. If you would like to learn more about how we can assist you, contact us today through the website. You can also call us directly at (800) 524-0684. BailOption representatives also speak Spanish! Information detailed in this article is not construed as legal advice. The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only.
Five Important Things to Do If Your Loved One Skips Court
The Five Important Things To Do If Your Loved One Skips Court After You Post Bail For Them When a loved one get arrested, your first instinct is to help them by posting bail. But, if he or she does not show up for their court date? Well, the bail is forfeited and the defendant will be arrested again. Below are the five important things to do if your loved one skips a court proceeding. 1. Be Ready to Pay the Bond If you co-signed for the bond, you are responsible for the total amount of the bond if your loved one skips court. The bail bond is the amount the court requires to release the defendant from jail. The figure depends on factors, such as the crime’s severity, the flight risk, likelihood to commit a crime, and the defendant’s criminal history. 2. Contact the Bail Agent or Bondsman You should try to reach the bail agent or bondsman and explain what has happened and when the defendant missed their court date. The bail agent or bondsman may have some suggestions on how you could find your loved one. 3. Contact the Police You should contact the police so that they can launch a search, help you track down the defendant, and finally bring them back into custody. When contacting the police, you should provide them with as much information as possible about the defendant, including their name, address, and other relevant information In addition, the police will likely want to know why your loved one skipped court. This information may help the police determine your loved ones whereabouts. 4. Do Not Harbor the Defendant If you know where your loved one is, do not harbor them or try to hide them from the authorities or the Bail Bond agent. In fact, this action is a crime, and you could face charges of harboring a fugitive. 5. Encourage Them to Turn Themselves In If you have contact with the defendant, tell them why they should surrender to the authorities. This step will make the process easier for everyone involved. Let them know you will support and believe in them through this process. In a situation where you have posted bail for a loved one, you should prepare for what comes next. Follow these steps to ensure that the process goes well and that your loved one appears in court. If you take these actions, then you could help avoid problems for you and your loved ones. BailOption Is Here To Help! BailOption is your trusted partner to help you post bail fast and quiet as possible. Contact BailOption for a consultation. We will answer more questions about bail bond posting. We can also answer your questions about getting your record expunged. That is, assuming you are found not guilty or if police drop the charges they have against you. BailOption can help you if you are arrested in Florida. BailOption will not only post your initial bond but will help you with any increases you face as your case progresses. Give us a call today so that we may help you. If you would like to learn more about how we can assist you, contact us today through the website. You can also call us directly at (800) 524-0684. BailOption representatives also speak Spanish!