Bail bonds are not something that most of us use often, if at all, so it’s understandable that you have questions. From being concerned about your loved one’s future to not understanding the financial process, you have bail bond questions you are afraid to ask.
But don’t be. We’ve seen and heard it all, and we know the process can be complicated. So if you have a question, please don’t hesitate to ask. For now, though, here are some of the common questions we hear, along with the answers.
Bail Bond Questions You Are Afraid to Ask
Bail Bond Question 1: How long will this take?
Most jails have standard bail schedules that specify bail amounts for common crimes, so someone can often get out of jail before even seeing a judge by paying the amount.
Otherwise, a judge would set the bail amount in a special bail hearing or when the arrested person appears in court for the first time, usually called the arraignment.
An arraignment must occur within 72 hours after an arrest.
Bail Bond Question 2: How much will this cost?
If you can pay the full bail amount that was set by the judge, you can do so and get the money back when your loved one appears in court.
If you can’t afford to pay the full bail amount, you can pay through a bail bond agency. They will post bail for you, usually for a fee of about 10 percent of the bail amount.
Bail Bond Question 3: Will I get my fee to the bail bond agency back?
Bail grants the temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for security (cash and/or collateral) to guarantee appearance in court. An individual may be free on bail pending the outcome of his or her trial.
There is a one-time fee for service that is non-refundable. Again, the fee is usually about 10 to 20 percent of the bail amount, so if bail is set at $30,000, the fee could be about $3,000.
Bail Bond Question 4: If I pay to get my loved one out of jail, will it hurt my credit?
Not really. It’s just like anything else you might have on your credit card. If you don’t pay it and it goes to collections, then it would hurt your credit. But if you pay it in a timely fashion like anything else, you should be fine.
Bail Bond Question 5: I doubt this will happen and feel guilty to even ask, but what if my loved one does not show up in court?
If someone who was released on bail misses his or her court date, the court will revoke the bail, issue a warrant for that person’s arrest, and demand full payment of the bail bond. This means that the police now have the right to enter the person’s property, search the person’s car or home, and take all the steps needed to bring him or her back to court.
That being said, it’s understandable that you might be concerned about what will happen next, but it’s not very common for defendants to skip bail. They don’t want to have to look over their shoulders due to concerns about warrants for their arrest, so most do show up for their hearings.
Contact us with Additional Questions
We know there are more bail bond questions you are afraid to ask. Some may be specific to your particular situation, so they cannot be answered in general here.
We want to help take some of the strain off your mind by answering the bail bond questions you are afraid to ask or by helping you get your loved one out of jail. Please feel free to reach out to us anytime through our Detroit Bail Bonds website or by phone at 313-244-0669.
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