Jail Nashville: Things You Should Know About Bail Bonds
Whether you are innocent or not, getting arrested can be one of the most stressful moments in a person’s life. This is normally the case especially if it happens abruptly catching you unawares.
No one wants to stay behind bars while waiting to be arraigned in court. Luckily, the law is flexible enough to allow one to go back home and wait for the day provided certain requirements are met, for instance, bail.
Here are a few things that you should know concerning the topic. For more details, you can check out Bail Bonds National Nashvile.
What is bail bond?
In simple terms, it refers to the money that an accused person has to pay to avoid staying in custody as they await the court trial. Once the trial is over the money can be given back. The set amount is stated after careful consideration and compliance with the rules and regulations that govern the whole process. This also varies across different states for example; Oregon, Wisconsin, Illinois, Massachusetts, Kentucky and Nebraska don’t allow it.
How is the amount determined?
There are set standard amounts for different categories of crime. These can be found in a bill schedule which is basically a list containing the specified figures.
The laws of the states dictate whether the suspect can be released immediately with a bond or without it and whether a bail hearing is necessary for the release.
The payment is usually smaller for small crimes such as petty theft and disorderly conduct and larger for serious offences like thuggery.
At times, the request can be denied when the offence is great such as treason or when the accused has a habit of skipping court sessions. The judge also has the right to increase it as they see fit, depending on the circumstances and provided they act within the law.
Which are the most common types?
The two popular ones are cash and surety. Cash bonds are normally affordable hence are fully paid in cash while surety bonds are expensive thus requires external aid in the form of a third party.
This brings in companies and agents whose work is to help you meet the demands. They charge a certain percentage of the total amount. A written agreement is signed by the third party stating that you will attend the court proceedings on the scheduled date.
If the set bail is too high, then you can file for a motion to have it reduced to a considerable amount. It is advisable that you work with a competent attorney should you decide to pursue that path.
The companies also demand collateral which is usually in the form of valuable assets such as vehicles, real estates and businesses. These vary depending on the company. The other types are immigration, property and federal. See this link to know more about bail bonds https://www.moneycrashers.com/jail-bail-bonds-types-money/
What happens if you violate the terms of agreement?
In addition to being required to pay money for your pre-trial release, there are also other conditions which you are expected to comply with. Some of these include:
- You will be expected to stay at your place of residence without travelling to another geographical location unless permitted by the relevant authorities.
- Refrain from taking alcohol and other drugs especially if your case involves substance abuse such as driving under the influence.
- You might be instructed to regularly check in with a service officer until the period is over.
- At times you might also be instructed to try and find a job in the event that you are unemployed.
If you fail to appear in court on the expected day or violate any of these conditions, then you’ll spend the rest of your pre-trial days in custody.
What happens after the trial?
If you are found guilty then you will be sent to prison to serve your sentence. If acquitted, then what is left of your money after the accrued cost has been serviced will be returned to you. This only applies if you paid in cash. If a third party was involved, then it will be theirs. Click here to read more about the types of bail bonds.
Conclusion
In general, all you need to have is a good attorney and some money or pricy asset to successfully navigate through the legal system when arrested. Once out on bond you should abide by the terms in place to avoid any complications. Armed with all this information you should be able to handle the whole situation calmly without making any rash decisions that might get you in trouble