Life is an intense and unpredictable thing. There is any number of potential scenarios when a person can find themselves on the wrong side of a jail cell. Sometimes life leads us down a path that ends up being quite destructive. Other times, it can lead us to a place where we will end up in the middle of something we do not even understand. Others, life may put us in the exact wrong place and the exact wrong time. Regardless of how being placed in a jail cell and watching the door close and lock can be a terrifying experience. Especially if you have never encountered this type of situation before or you do not understand why you are even there. Because being arrested and subsequently jailed is such a traumatic experience, it is easy to lose all train of thought and not know what to do next. For some, it may even seem impossible to do anything. Also, consider the family members of a person who has just been arrested and placed behind bars. It can be terrifying for those still on the outside as well. If a friend or family member is present during the arrest, that can be quite scary, but the helpless feeling afterward is often worse. It is difficult to know what to do when someone you care about has just been arrested, even if you know that the person was doing something that earned that arrest. No matter which side of the equation you are on, there are steps that you can take to help the situation. First, a lawyer needs to be contacted regardless of guilt or innocence. Only a lawyer will be able to find out vital information, set up necessary hearings, and make a case for bail. Depending on the severity of the crime that a person is being accused of, and that person’s history, bail may be set after someone is arrested. Bail is a particular amount of money that, if paid, allows the person to go home until the time of their hearing rather than remain in the jail cell. The difficulty many face with this is that bail is often quite expensive. This is where bail bonds people come in. Learn about bail bonds and how to acquire one, here.
The first thing you need to understand is what exactly a bail bond is. If you are being granted bail, a judge will set the amount that they feel is the most appropriate based on your crime, your criminal history, and your flight risk. The term “flight risk”, refers to when someone takes off after being released on bail and does not abide by any restrictions, instead of leaving the area with no explanation or return date. All of these things are factors that a judge must carefully consider before announcing whether or not bail will be granted and if so, what the amount will be. It is important to note here, that even a low bail is still out of reach for many people. This is where bail bonds begin to play a part. When someone cannot afford their bail, they can go to a bail bondsperson and request a bond. This bond is essentially a loan, the bondsperson makes arrangements to pay the bail amount so that you can be released, but then you have to pay that amount back just like any other type of loan. When you begin the process, you will likely have to provide some sort of collateral. This is often a person’s house but can be anything from a car to an RV, to a valuable piece of jewelry. All that is required is that the bondsperson has a way to get their money back if you fail to pay them back or take off. Like any loan, the amount can be paid off over time or all a once depending on your situation. The important thing is that it is paid back and in a timely manner.
If you are searching out bail bonds for a friend or family member that is in jail, your best option is to search the internet for local bail bonds companies. You can search from any internet connected device from anywhere with a WIFI connection. Beyond this, the only thing you need is appropriate keywords. Generally, using the phrase “bail bond” in conjunction with a location descriptive word is all that you will need. An example of this is searching for a term like bail bonds orlando company in your browser. You can use different combinations of keywords if necessary, but you should be able to find what you are looking for so long as the keywords you need to include are present. If you are having a difficult time finding the results you need, consider altering at least one of your keywords. Depending on your location, you may find multiple results or you may only find one. If you find yourself faced with more than one option, take the time to look at each one carefully to determine which one best suits your needs. This can mean anything form they are the only one open at the time or it is the closest to your location. Whatever your criteria, make sure to keep it in mind as you look at your options.
Once you find a bail bond company, you will likely have to go to their office to see of they are willing to take you on. There is no guarantee that a bail bond company will agree to take you on as a customer. There are many factors, but the most common is how much the bail is and what type of collateral you have to offer. If you have a high bail, but only a tiny amount of collateral, a company may turn you down. Many movies depict anyone being able to walk into a bail bondsman company and walk out with a huge amount of money. In the real world, it does not work like that.