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 three 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.
PCS Bail Bonds advises clients that even if the charges against them are dismissed, they will still have to pay the fee to the bonding agency. Clients should also be aware that the co-signer of the bail bond is liable for the full amount.