| A bondsman, also known as a bail bond agent, is an | | | | promise to return to court, you can go without |
| agency or person who will put up the money to | | | | paying any money. No bail bond agent is needed in |
| secure bail for those who need to pledge their | | | | this case. |
| appearance at a criminal court hearing. Bail bondsmen | | | | There are also cash bonds, in which case the |
| can often have a defendant released in a matter of | | | | defendant has to pay the entire bail amount in order |
| hours, once their services have been obtained. Bail is | | | | to be released. In some states, there are also |
| an amount of money that the court says must be | | | | ten-percent bonds, which means that ten percent of |
| used as collateral to guarantee that the accused will | | | | the bond amount will be required until an appearance |
| appear in court as promised. Without posting the | | | | at court. If the defendant does not appear, the |
| proper amount, a defendant must remain in jail until | | | | other ninety percent will be required. |
| their appearance. | | | | The final kind is a surety bond. This is the case in |
| A bondsman will pay a percentage of the bail against | | | | which a bondsman promises that the defendant will |
| the bond, to back the defendant's promise to show | | | | show up at court. If the promise is not kept, the |
| up for court. If the defendant doesn't appear, the | | | | bondsman is responsible for the entire bail amount. In |
| bondsman must cover the bail amount, but does | | | | any of the last three cases, the services of a bail |
| have the option of using a method such as sending a | | | | bondsman may be needed. |
| bounty hunter to bring the defendant to court in | | | | Misdemeanor and felony bonds are given at the |
| order to recoup their losses. Many bond agencies are | | | | arraignment following being arrested for either |
| open at all hours to cater to the needs of their | | | | misdemeanor or felony behavior. A misdemeanor is |
| clients, so if you find yourself arraigned and in need | | | | generally less serious charges, thus the bond is |
| of someone to help you post bail so that you can | | | | generally less than for a felony. After having been |
| wait for your trial at home, a bondsman is the person | | | | convicted, a criminal appeal may be filed for various |
| you are looking for. | | | | reasons. |
| Bonds can be posted in all sorts of situations, such as | | | | In some cases, you are eligible for bail. The factors |
| for misdemeanors, felonies, criminal appeals, jail | | | | involved in determining whether or not bond can be |
| bonds, and immigration bonds. For each of these, | | | | posted include length of sentence and the type of |
| there are generally four different types of bonds | | | | crime involved. Immigration bonds are for those who |
| that can be made. The first is a personal | | | | are in custody for immigration detainees or |
| recognizance bond, which means that if you make a | | | | immigration violations. |