Lifestyle

The Purpose of Bail Bonds

Bail bonds aim to ensure a defendant’s appearance in court. They can also help to detain a defendant until their trial.

When a defendant is arrested, they will be given a hearing date and a set amount for their bail. This will have to be paid by the defendant and their friends and family.

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It is a way to ensure a defendant’s appearance in court

Bail bonds aim to ensure that a defendant will appear in court as ordered. This can help defendants avoid spending time in jail while awaiting trial.

A judge sets bail according to the severity of the offense and an individual’s criminal history. It can be in the form of cash or a bond.

A person can get a bail bond through the assistance of a bail bond company Allentown, PA, and by paying a fee to a bondsman or by putting up collateral such as real estate property. Once the defendant attends all their scheduled court dates, the bond company will release the collateral and return the fee.

The fee is typically 10% of the total bond amount. However, a judge can reduce it if they believe it will pose an undue hardship on the family.

It is a way to detain a defendant before trial

When someone is arrested and charged with a crime, they can spend time in jail before they are tried. To prevent this, a financial agreement, known as bail, is reached between the court and the defendant to secure their release.

This agreement is usually in the form of a bond, where a defendant posts a refundable amount should they fail to appear in court as agreed. However, there are also property bonds, where a defendant puts up their house, car, or other property.

Pre-trial detention should only be used when lawful, reasonable, and necessary. It should not be used as a tool to coerce plea bargains from indigent defendants or as a way to keep people in prison without trial. Excessive pre-trial detention can lead to overcrowding and inhumane conditions and increase the chances of a person being convicted of a crime. This is why Fair Trials calls for states to use pre-trial detention only as a last resort and for people to be kept in custody for as short a time as possible before their trial.

It is a way to deter crime

Bail bonds ensure that individuals are present in court while awaiting trial. This helps them stay out of trouble, avoid jail, and get their lives back on track after going through the legal process.

Bail bonds also deter crime by making people think twice before skipping court or getting caught. This is because they know they’ll pay much money to be released from custody, even if it won’t matter.

While most Americans support ending money bail, the law does not require courts to consider this in all cases. However, judges should consider whether the bail amount will pose an undue hardship on a defendant and their family.

It is a way to pay for a defendant’s release

The purpose of bail bonds is to allow a defendant to be released from jail while they await trial. In return, the court requires that a certain amount of money be paid to the courts, which is returned to them at the end of the case if the defendant shows up for all their court dates and complies with pre-trial conditions.

Bail is often set at a high amount and is usually financially impossible for defendants to pay independently. This is why people seek help from a bondsman who posts a bail bond.

These bonds are typically secured by collateral, which is worth more than the total amount of the bond. This can be cash, property, or a deed to a home. If the defendant does not return to court and follow all court orders, the bond company takes this collateral, and their loved ones may lose the amount they paid.