If you have been arrested and put in jail, you may have an opportunity to get out of jail in advance of your court date by posting bail. Your bail is the amount of money that you are required to pay to the court in order to secure your release. You may be able to get your bail money back at the conclusion of your legal proceedings, provided you show up on time for your court dates. If you've never experienced anything like this before, here are some of the more common types of bail that you might be given an opportunity to post.
Personal Recognizance Bail
Your best-case scenario when it comes to getting out of jail is for the judge to tell you that you are being released on your own recognizance of the situation. What this means is that you are making a promise to the judge or the court that you will show up on time for your next court date. With that promise made, you'll be free to go without actually having to put up cash or anything else in order to secure your release. This type of bail is more common for first-time offenders or for people who are only facing misdemeanors or petty-level crimes. It can't hurt to politely ask the judge for this type of bail at your first hearing, since the worst they can say is no.
Full Cash Bail
This type of bail is relatively straightforward. The judge sets the bail amount at a certain dollar figure. You then provide the court with that exact amount of money in order to secure your release. The court holds onto the money to ensure that you will show up for your court dates. If you do not show up at court and a warrant needs to be put out for your arrest, you will forfeit the cash bail amount.
Property or Collateral Bail Bond
If the bail amount is significant and you don't have cash on hand or don't want to put up a large sum, you could put up a piece of property like a house or car. If you show up on time to court after release, you get to keep your property. Failure to show up in court may mean you forfeit your property to the court.
Surety Bond Courtesy of a Bail Bonds Agent
Finally, you can work with a bail bonds company to get out of jail on a surety bond. A bail bond agent will pay your cash bail for you in exchange for a fee. You will then owe payments to the bail bond company. You will also need to show up on time to court or the bail bond agent might hire a bounty hunter to come and find you.
Contact a bail bond firm today if you need help posting bail.
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