What is the role of a bail bondsman?

Answer 1

A bail bondsman or bail bond company is an individual or company that is licensed by the state to provide corporate surety bail bonds in criminal cases. A licensed bail bond company enters into an agreement with the defendant and the court. The defendant pays the bail bond company a fee, usually 10--15% of the bond amount set by the court. The bail bond company agrees to pay the court the amount of the bond if the defendant fails to appear for trial at any point that he is out on bail. The bail bond company does not actually provide the bond amount unless the defendant fails to appear.

Sometimes the court will require that a defendant obtain a corporate surety bail bond even if he has the assets to put up for bail. This is usually done when the defendant has access to a considerable amount of assets, say proceeds from an illegal activity, and the court wants a third party to guarantee the defendant's appearance. Bail bond companies don't like to pay bonds when their clients "skip" trial, and will pursue the defendant relentlessly. For that reason, some judges will order a defendant held pending establishment of a corporate surety bond.

Also, most bail bond companies don't actually have the funds on hand. They are financed by finance companies who specialize in providing such bonds. If the defendant fails to appear and is declared a fugitive, the financing company is the one who actually provides the funds. However, the bail bond company is still obligated to the financing company. If the amount of bond is high, most bail bondsmen will require the defendant, or someone willing to assist the defendant, to put up an asset as collateral. This quite often is real estate, in which case the defendant mortgages his property to the bail bondsman.

In some jurisdiction, the court will allow the defendant to pay to the court the usual percentage in lieu of obtaining a bond. So, if the court sets the bond amount at, say, $10,000, the defendant can pay the court $1000 cash in lieu of obtaining the bond. In most cases, the defendant receives a refund of the cash amount once his case has been adjudicated. This usually only happens when the risk-of-flight of the defendant is considered minimal.

Answer 2

A licensed bail bond company (or bail bondsman) enters into an agreement with the defendant and the court. The defendant pays the bail bond company a fee, usually 10--15% of the bond amount set by the court. The bail bond company agrees to pay the court the amount of the bond if the defendant fails to appear for trial at any point that he is out on bail. The bail bond company does not actually provide the bond amount unless the defendant fails to appear.

Sometimes the court will require that a defendant obtain a corporate surety bail bond even if he or she has the assets to put up for bail. This is usually done when the defendant has access to a considerable amount of assets, say proceeds from an illegal activity, and the court wants a third party to guarantee the defendant's appearance. Bail bond companies don't like to pay bonds when their clients "skip" trial, and will pursue the defendant relentlessly. For that reason, some judges will order a defendant held pending establishment of a corporate surety bond.

Also, most bail bond companies don't actually have the funds on hand. They are financed by finance companies who specialize in providing such bonds. If the defendant fails to appear and is declared a fugitive, the financing company is the one who actually provides the funds. However, the bail bond company is still obligated to the financing company. If the amount of bond is high, most bail bondsmen will require the defendant, or someone willing to assist the defendant, to put up an asset as collateral. This quite often is real estate, in which case the defendant mortgages his property to the bail bondsman.

Answer 3

Bail is simply a financial arrangement a bonding agency is going to make on the person’s behalf. The agency, acting for that person, and the court are going to make an arrangement that the person is released pending their trial as long as they have collateral or money. The collateral might be a bond, assets, or cash. The bail value is set by the court.

The agency then is responsible for making sure the person comes to court for their trial. If they don’t show up, the agency might have one of their bounty hunters track them down. Bounty hunting is still allowed in the United States. The bond’s surety the entre bail is going to be paid but there are courts that will accept the entire bond or 10% down for a suspect to be released.

Answer 4

A bail bond is a surety used to obtain the release of a criminal defendant who has been required to give bail.