Cash Bonds

If a judge were to set a defendant’s bail at $75,000, the entire amount must be paid up front with cash (cash bond) to the court before the defendant can leave. This money is held as collateral until the completion of the trail. That’s where bail bonds come in.

Surety Bail Bonds

Most people do not have the available funds to post cash bonds. A bail bondsman can provide a surety bail bond to have the inmate released for a fee of ten percent of the total bail amount. In the case of a $75,000 bond, whomever is signing the bond must pay $7,500. This fee is non-refundable and can usually be set up on a payment plan with the bail bond agent.

Bail Bonds are a type of a surety bond issued through an insurance company guaranteeing the full bond amount from the co-signer of the bond if the defendant doesn’t comply with the rules of the bond (i.e. Skips court or takes flight).

Bail bonds are statistically a pretty low risk because most defendants want to clear their name and the co-signers and bail bondsman want you to help you make your court appearances on time. Bail bondsmen are not bounty hunters and they should be the first one you call if a defendant misses a court appearance because they can help clear up any confusion with the court.

Even if you have the ability to pay a cash bond, statistically speaking, higher fines and court fees are assessed with a cash bail because there is an inherent “ability to pay” assumed. So if you are in a pinch, call the knowledgeable bail bondsmen at SMD & HLS Bail Bonding Co. to get you started back in the right direction.

614-257-9349

or

614-582-6049

Sources:
–My Bail Hotline – Cash Bond VS Surety Bond