Arrested? What is Bail?
Traditionally when you are arrested you will be held in county jail up until your day in court, unless you are able to “make bail”. Bail is the amount of money that the court requires you to pay in order to stay out of jail until your day in court (It’s expected that you will return for your day in court).
If you don’t pay bail and skip town the court will send a bail bondsman or bounty hunter after you to bring you back. These people with the authority of the court are authorized to bring you back (depending on state laws, they are authorized to use lethal force if necessary).
Bail is set according to multiple factors like:
The Crime
Your Age
Criminal History
Level of Education
Employment
Your history on whether or not to appear
Your level of income
Level of involvement in society
And your history of substance abuse
You don’t have to pay your bail in one full lump sum. Most bail companies will set your bail payments at 10% for example if your bail is set at 2,000 dollars, you will be expected to pay 200 dollars. There are multiple ways or payment options on your bail bonds. The most common payment is cash, however, there are several other options to consider:
Pay your bail with a money order or a check (Obviously don’t write a bad check).
Pay your bail with a debit or credit card.
Most bail companies now can issue Bail Bond Payment Plans. Consult with your bail bondsman on what plan can work for you.
With larger bonds, it can be more difficult to pay in sums of cash you can use real estate as a form of collateral to pay.
Bail serves as a financial guarantee to ensure appearance in court, with various factors influencing its amount, including the nature of the crime, personal history, and community involvement. Failure to pay bail can result in pursuit by bail bondsmen or bounty hunters, authorized by the court, to bring the individual back. Payment options for bail bonds vary, allowing flexibility for individuals to meet their financial obligations, with common methods including cash, money orders, checks, debit/credit cards, and real estate collateral for larger sums. Bail Bond Payment Plans offer additional options for managing payments, highlighting the importance of consulting with a bail bondsman to determine the most suitable approach.
