While we’ve presented many facts and helpful pointers about bail bonds in past blogs, you may still have one basic question: What are bail bonds really for to begin with?
You may wonder:
- Why someone should get out of jail if they’ve been arrested.
- Why that person has to pay to get out of jail.
- Why the bail bonds options were ever created in the first place.
We’re here to tell you this: Bail bonds are so much more important and fundamental to basic civil rights than the general public may realize.
What Bail Bonds are Really For
1. They serve as assurance that the defendant will return to court.
This aspect is rather clear: bail serves as an agreement or a promise that the defendant will return to court for hearings. When a bail bondsperson, the defendant, or the defendant’s family pays bail, the money may be returned after the case is over. If the defendant goes on the run, however, the cosigner will likely not receive that money back. Many factors are associated with this policy, so consult with one of our bail bonds agents for basic information in your particular case.
2. The person who was arrested has a right to due process.
Although it may not appear so in today’s society, a defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty. Without bail, an “innocent” person would have to remain in jail. Based on that fundamental principle, that’s simply not just.
3. Bail safeguards against cruel and unusual punishment.
The Eighth Amendment states that neither excessive fines nor cruel and unusual punishment should be imposed. Keeping an “innocent” person in jail could possibly be considered cruel punishment, especially if negative consequences occurred, such as the loss of a job.
4. The defendant can continue to go to work and handle other responsibilities.
Especially in the case of misdemeanors or low-level felonies, allowing the defendant to obtain a bail bond means he or she can hold onto a job, continue to pay the bills, and maintain other responsibilities as appropriate and possible.
5. It would be easier to communicate with a defense attorney.
The right to an attorney is another crucial aspect of the criminal justice system. A defendant who is released from jail pending trial can better communicate with his or her attorney.
6. They free up the jail cells.
With limited space in police stations and county jails, allowing an inmate to be released on bail frees up the space for the next person who is arrested.
Contact Us to Learn More
For more information about what bail bonds are for or how bail works, see our blog page or contact one of our bail bonds agents in Port Huron. We can be reached online, by phone at (810) 605-5555, or by email at info@bailbondsporthuron.com.
Tags: bail bonds, Due Process, Port Huron Bail Bondsman, Right to an Attorney