Someone you know is in jail. What’s the next step? Most people don’t encounter this problem, so it can be an intimidating process. But bailing someone out of jail isn’t difficult. You just need to contact a professional. Here is what you need to know when trying to bail someone out of jail:
First: What Exactly Is “Bailing Out”?
When someone has been arrested for a crime, they are held in jail. They have two options: They can either be bailed out or stay in jail until their court date. Understandably, the latter isn’t really an option for most people. A court date can take a month or more to roll around. During this time, a person won’t be able to look after their family and could potentially lose their job.
Unfortunately, most people can’t bail themselves out of jail because bail has to be delivered in cash. Even if someone has enough money in their bank account, they’re going to need someone else to “bail them out.” This task usually falls on a trusted family member, close friend, or significant other.
The Information: Where Are They and What Are the Charges?
You might have all the information you need. Or you might not. Because communication can be difficult with someone in jail, you might not know where they’re being held or what charges they’re being held on. You’ll need to know the amount of bail and where to deliver itbefore you can get them bailed out.
Bail isn’t assigned right away. Bail has to be set. If your friend or family member was just taken into jail, they may not have a set bail yet. You’ll need to connect with the jail they’re being held at to find out more. And if you don’t know exactly what jail they’re in, you may need to call around.
Getting Your Bail: What’s the Difference Between Bail and a Bond?
When you bail someone out, you need to come up with bail money. The court will usually only take money, and it’s often very high: thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. If you don’t have that cash at hand, you can get a bond, instead.
A bond comes from a bail bondsman. The bail bondsman puts up the bail for you in the form of a bond, and you pay a bonding fee. You don’t need to come up with the full bail amount, but unlike bail, you don’t get the money back. Bond fees are far less than bail, though if the bond amount is very large, you may be asked to put up collateral.
It’s important to note that you will be responsible for the full bail amount if your loved one doesn’t show up to court, so make sure they do!
How Do You Bond Someone Out of Jail?
Your bondsman will help you with this process. Once bail has been set, the bondsman will fill out the paperwork required to get your loved one out of jail. They will go to the jail and present the bonding paperwork, and you and your loved one will be able to leave.
Your bondsman is going to keep in contact with you regarding your court date. If you have any issues with your court date, you will need to notify both the court and your bondsman. If your loved one isn’t able to attend their court date, they will have “skipped bail” and become responsible for the full amount of bail (as will you), and they may have a warrant put out for their arrest.
Despite it not being an everyday event, bailing someone out of jail doesn’t have to be an intimidating process. There are people there to help. For more information about the process of bonding someone out, contact the friendly professionals at A Right Choice Bail Bonds.