In return for a non-refundable payment, the bail bondsman will pay the bail amount and receive it when the trial is over. They serve only to give the defendant an incentive to appear in court at the time and date set. The agent will typically charge 15-20% of the total bond amount, and the money or collateral you furnish is non-refundable. We do not handle any of the following cases: And we do not handle any cases outside of California. This includes: If the defendant misses a required court appearance, it can forfeit the bond. The bail bond agent arranges how the defendant will get a bond bail from the bonds company. If you have a higher bond, you may have to provide the . If the defendant comes in court for trial, their money is returned. Consider the above info so that you can make the decision that is best for you. The defendant will have to wait for trial behind bars. Choosing a Bail Bond Company Doesn't Have to Be Difficult. } For example, if a defendant's bail is $10,000, the agent may charge the defendant a nonrefundable fee of $1,000 to post a bail bond in the amount of $10,000 with the court. These and other questions are sure to come up, and you want to find some quick and easy answers. For over 20 years we've worked with arrestees and their families to connect them with the best bail agents in the industry. Bail payments must be cash, so the. In the case where the defendant took a bail bond, the 10 percent paid as a premium fee is non-refundable. Are you looking for a bail bond in Texas or information on bail? The fee is non-refundable and will provide a defendant with the money needed to Call a Dallas County bail bondsman 24/7 at 214-747-4110. . Some of these rules include: The pros of knowing how bail works in Texas are that you only have to pay 10% of the bond allowing you to use the money you saved on rent, a lawyer or other bills you may have gotten when arrested (example: if your car was towed). If the defendant appears when he or she was ordered to, bail is refunded. In cases where the bail set is relatively low, this could be possible. When an accused has been bonded from jail, whether by surety bail bond, personal recognizance bail bond, property bail bond, or any other type of bail, he or she should pay close attention to the wording for Bail Bond Conditions. }] If the defendant has the cash, then it is simple; they pay the total amount to the court and get a release with a pending trial. 17.01. The answer to the question of whether a bail company should be better is often yes. Texas proposes different ways to post bail, and certain methods will depend . The defendant may be convicted of bail jumping if they can prove that they did not receive proper notice of the court date. The arrestee will have to pay the bail agent a fee for their service. Some bail bond companies may allow defendants to pay the 12 percent premium on a payment plan. However, if the defendant fails to appear, the court keeps the bail and issues a warrant for his or her arrest. The judge will also consider the severity of the crime." These can take up to weeks, as the court must conduct inspections and valuations on the property. The defendant must meet specific conditions to stay out of jail with a pending trial. In Texas, do you receive your bail money back? Copyright 2023 Shouse Law Group, A.P.C. The arrestee will have to pay the bail agent a fee for their service. In the case of a PSBU, the cost is $200 in many parishes, as well as court costs other charges. The amount of bail money is supposed to be significant enough to induce the person to show up to recover the bail money. Then, the defendant could be released from jail until court. While typical, your case may vary from these numbers based on the specific circumstances. They are similar to regular bonds, but rather than the financial guarantee being provided by the bail agent, the guarantee is derived from property the arrestee has." However, the terms of pre-trial release can be stricter for PR bonds. 2. Cost and Fees. Consult a federal criminal defense attorney if you were given a federal bail and have not been released from jail. Youll borrow money from them, then pay a fee for the service. Then, be sure to follow all directions while out on bond. the defendant is a risk to someone elses safety. This fee is non-refundable. Keep in mind that all bail bondsmen must be licensed within the county they are providing bail services in. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bonds company loses their money, and the defendant is responsible for the losses. Multiple federal courts have found . How Does Bail Bond Collateral Work? When it comes to bail, the defendant can either get a cash bail or bond bail. During the bail hearing, the court will determine if the arrested person who is jailed and in the custody of law enforcement should be released or not, and . Other factors might also have an impact on the quantity. ", Does Fifth Amendment Protect You From Having To Surrender Encryption Passwords To Police? Defendants who cannot pay their own bail can hire a bail bondsman to help, for a fee. These are not as common, but they can and do still happen. The rules still apply whether its a zero down bail bonds, online bond or walk in bond; if you dont abide by the rules of the bond company or the court youre going back to jail. After all, they are taking on a big risk by providing the bond. The premium can be between 10 and 20 percent of the bond amount. Apply for Your license with the state. Bail is essentially an insurance policy that allows an arrested individual to move freely until trial, with assurance he or she will appear as required on his or her court date. How Do Bail Bonds Work in Texas for Different Crimes? The cons are that the money you spent on the bond is a fee you pay to the bondsman and you will not get this money returned. Release upon Own RecognizanceIf the court determines that the accused is not a flight risk or a threat to the community they will be released and bail will not be set. A bail bondsman does not work from 9 to 5. Call us at (713) 224-4040. If the defendant does not have enough collateral to post the bond, the bail bondsman or bail agent may ask the defendant's friends and family to help cover bail. The amount of the fee can be up to 15% of the bail amount set by the courts. It will not be returned when the case ends. They are about the same as you will find in other states. If the accused does not show up on their court dates, the fee is refunded to the person who paid it. Because it is not constitutionally permitted, bail after conviction is not allowed in every state. The bail bond system exists to ensure that individuals charged with crimes appear for their court dates as required while allowing them to move freely between booking and arraignment. FORFEITURE OF BAIL. To be granted remission, the accused must provide valid reasons for the money to be returned. How do bail bonds work? In cases where the bail set is relatively low, this could be possible. If you cant afford to pay it, you might need to work with bail bond agencies. For example, in Denton County if the bail amount is $10,000, the premium charged by the Denton County bail bonds company is $1,000 to $2,000. 4 Ways to Get Out of Jail. "@context": "https://schema.org", Vice versa. Outsiders are less risky. The bail agency or bail bondsman keeps the cash fee for the bail bond as profit. This can differ from one county to another. First, the "bail" amount is simply an amount of money that must be paid to the court in the event that the defendant does not appear in court or violates any other pre-trial bond conditions imposed by the court. The amount required to post bail can be reduced in a bail hearing. Defendants unable to pay their bail may employ a bail bondsman to assist them for a fee. Defendants end up receiving a better deal than what they expected. This will cover your bail. The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that bail cant be excessive or used to raise money for the government. There are two main types of bail bonds - criminal and civil bail bonds. Possible Court-Imposed Bail Bond Conditions: How a defense attorney can lower your bond amount. They ensure that a defendant will follow a court's requirements, including . Choose to Sign with a Professional Bail Bondsman: A bail agent or bail bondsman can act as a surety and post bail for the defendant. When defendants cannot make bail, they can call a bail bond company. The bond amount is determined by the offense accused and the court hearing the case. The fee is non-refundable and will provide a defendant with the money needed to make bail and be set free until their court appearance. The bondsman then guarantees the full amount of bail to the county theyre licensed in. Unfortunately, there is no bail mechanism in federal proceedings. If they appear in court, they will get their money back. Inadvertently sharing information with jailers and other inmates could lead to them being used against them in the event of a trial. TITLE 1. When it comes to understanding how bail bonds work in Texas; co-signors should know that the bail bonds process, fees and oversight is typical in Texas as in most states.The bail bonds Texas authorities use to release those arrested from jail before their court date has been in place for many decades. It releases someone that is in custody for an immigration violation. If you end up in jail, or if one of your friends or loved ones is jailed, do not stay any longer than absolutely necessary. Visit our California DUI page to learn more. New Jersey passed a suite of criminal justice reforms in 2016 that essentially eliminated cash bail and created a new pretrial services program. bail-jumping - the criminal offense of defaulting on one's bail; bailee - a person who receives personal property from another as a bailment; bailer/bail agent/bail bondsman - one who provides bail as a surety for a criminal defendant's release; bail bond - a bond given to a court by a criminal defendant's surety to guarantee that the defendant will duly appear in court in the future and, if . Required fields are marked *. By claiming that the defendant is not a flight danger, the defense counsel can assist the defendant in obtaining a reduction. A bail bond is a type of surety bond. Other factors can influence the amount, as well. If it is believed that the defendant may interfere with witnesses or evidence, they will not be allowed bail. There are two ways to pay for an immigration bond: Surety bond - The detainee's friends or family can work with an immigration bond agent to get a surety bond. He isn't addressing people stuck behind bars because they can't afford to pay. Therefore, the bail can either be a personal bond or a bail bond. No, you od not get the bail premium you paid returned, that is a fee. IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND NEEDS HELP, CONTACT US TODAY. Bail can also be reduced if the defendant has already spent enough time in jail awaiting trial.2. Unlike other states, Texas has a unique way of handling bail bonds costs. Criminal bail bonds can be used in criminal cases. Posting bail will allow you or your friend or family member to be . 4. Prisons offer work opportunities, libraries, exercise equipment, and many other privileges. You will find that the basic process with a bail bond company is going to be essentially the same across the state of Texas. This form is encrypted and protected by attorney-client confidentiality. See thefreedictionary.com and The History of Bail. Some bondsmen can even accept Western Union Money-Grams to receive payments from out of state co-signors. At the end of your court [proceedings the bondsman will release any liens and/or send you a check for collateral that may have been posted. "name": "How is bail typically determined in Texas? This will be used by the attorney to secure your bail bond. The defense lawyer can help the defendant get a reduction by arguing that the defendant is not a flight risk. A bail bond is a guarantee that the defendant will appear in court on the dates required. The bail bond agent doesnt pay the full amount of bail set by the court. The court can accept collateral, usually land or buildings, if the defendant doesnt have enough cash. This is a nonrefundable fee, even if the defendant shows up for trial as scheduled. When you work with your Texas county bondsman, make sure you understand what all is involved in the bail fee. Whether the criminal poses a risk to society. A decision is made about whether they can be released on bail or not. 2023 How Bail Bonds Work | All Rights Reserved, Hidalgo County Bail Bond Association | HCBBA. If you are a resident of Texas, you have a job that supports your family, have no passport and have never been out of Texas, then you are not a flight risk. Call and tell us your situation. While you have the option of leaving jail pending trial, the federal courts use . If the bond amount is $700, you'll have to post the full amount in cash or by using a secure payment such as a debit or credit card . It is recommended that you use a more professional bail company to assist you with all requirements due to the complex nature of immigration bail bonds. The collateral generally falls to vehicles, real estate or other valuables which can be re-sold for the total amount of the bail that was set. 1221 Studewood St Ste 110 The bail forfeited if the accused does not show up to court on the date. These are some factors that could influence the outcome of such a decision: Federal Bail BondIf someone is charged with a federal offense, or an interstate crime they must post a federal bail bond so that they can be released. For fast, comprehensive bail bond assistance in Dallas, TX, give our team a call at (214) 760-9978 in Dallas County or (817) 261-2828 in Terrance County. How do bail bonds work in Texas? After a bail bond company posts bail on the defendant's . This co-signer can theoretically be anyone who knows the defendant. Texas bail bond companies must have a license from the state of Texas for the bail bond to be accepted. Courts can also choose to release a defendant on personal recognizance.