You may think that all bail bonds are alike: you go to a bondsman for bail bonds after your arraignment, they post your bond, you’re released from jail, and that’s that.
However, PCS Bail Bonds, the Fort Worth area’s leading bail bonds provider, wants clients to know that there are many different types of bail bonds available. Though all types of bail bonds are used to secure your release from jail, the type of bail bond you choose depends on your needs. It should also be noted that there are certain offenses, such as capital crimes, where bail will not be offered.
Cash Bond
The client must pay the full amount of bail in cash, not just a percentage. At the disposition of the case, the guarantor may be refunded the full bail amount if they don’t have any fees or fines and don’t owe restitution. However, if the client fails to appear in court, they will forfeit the entire amount.
Surety Bond
This is the most common type of bail bond. A bail bondsman guarantees that the client will appear in court through his or her own assets or an insurance company. A bondsman will usually charge a percentage of their client’s bail amount, sometimes with additional collateral pledges if needed. The bondsman will then pay the whole bond amount to the proper agency to secure the defendant’s release. This type of bond is non-refundable.
Immigration Bond
This type of bond is similar to a surety bond, but is set for clients who are detained pending Immigration and Naturalization Service and Homeland Security hearings. There are three types: a delivery bond, a bond condition based upon the delivery of the client; a public safety bond, a bond that ensures the client will not become a public charge; and a voluntary departure bond, a bond that guarantees the client will leave the country.
The amount of bail typically depends on the judge and the seriousness of the crime. If you’ve been arrested for a minor crime, you can expect to pay relatively low bail, but if your crime is more serious, you can expect the bail amount to be considerably higher.
If you fail to appear in court for your next scheduled date, you may forfeit the amount of bail you paid, provided if it is refundable. However, exceptions may be made, such as an illness, a death in the family, or being arrested. Once bail has been set, the paperwork takes anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. Depending on the type of facility you’re being held in, being freed can take anywhere from one to three hours if you are in a local police station and three to eight hours for county jails.
Personal (Own) Recognizance
A personal recognizance bond is when there is no cost to be paid to the court, but the defendant is released by the judge with the ultimatum that they will show up for all their court dates. If, for whatever reason, the defendant misses their court appearance, they will be taken back to jail until their trial. This type of bail is usually only allowed if the defendant has been charged with a relatively minor, nonviolent crime. High-risk cases rarely allow for this kind of bond, as well as people who are a flight risk.
Property Bond
A property bond is when property is used as collateral to get a defendant out of jail. It involves offering up local real estate with the court instead of bail money to allow for the release of the defendant from jail until their trial. Unlike cash bonds that are quick to process, the property bond process typically takes one to two weeks because it requires the judge’s approval, property appraisal, clerk’s acceptance and a sales comparison.
Federal Bonds
If a defendant has been charged with a federal crime, only federal bonds can be issued. Federal bonds, like property bonds, are done directly with the court without the use of a bail bondsman. Cash and property can be used to get a federal bond.
Get Help from a Bail Bondsman
If you or someone you know needs help getting out of jail and posting bail, there are different types of bonds available that can help your particular situation. The types mentioned above are yours to choose from, but if you need help in making a decision and having guidance to deal with the pretrial process, a bail bondsman can help.
PCS Bail Bonds can help you if you need to post bail or need advice about your situation. We provide 24-hour bail bonds for all kinds of charges including theft, drug possession, embezzlement, assault, and more. Our experienced agents can help you obtain a bond in a fraction of the time.
We have professional memberships in several renowned associations including the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, Tarrant County Bar Association, and Professional Bondsmen of Tarrant County. We serve clients in Fort Worth, Texas, and other municipalities in Tarrant County. We process our clients’ requests quickly and efficiently. Our bond agents are always on call and we can be down to the jail in under 30 minutes.
Contact us now by phone at 817-335-1655, at our e-mail, visit in-person, or fill out our bail bond request form. You can be confident that you’re working with experts who are dedicated to helping you.