Is a Bail Bondsman a Bounty Hunter?

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Many people watch the television shows, read the comic books, and see the movies about bounty hunters and their daring chronicles. It makes many of us question the veracity of these story lines, and whether or not bounty hunters truly exist in real life; while many others are under the impression that bounty hunters and bail bondsmen are the same thing. When a person is arrested, they are taken to the local county jail and given a chance to post bond using the services provided by a bail bondsman.

Is this bail bond agent also a bounty hunter? Are bounty hunters even real? Continue reading to learn the truth behind the stories and myths about bail bondsmen and bounty hunters, and who to ask for additional information regarding the topic.

Bounty Hunters

A bounty hunter is also called a fugitive recovery agent, skip tracer, and bail recovery agent. They are not bail bondsmen, as they do not provide bonds for people in jail. Bounty hunters are rare, and often “free-lance” workers that are typically hired in high-profile cases to investigate the whereabouts of a criminal or dangerous person on the run from the law. The reason why bounty hunters are confused for bail bondsmen, and vice verse, is due to the fact that bail bond companies will sometimes hire a bounty hunter to track down a fugitive that has been released on bail. They do this for high-profile cases in which the bond amounts are thousands of dollars or more, or if the fugitive is labeled extremely dangerous and likely to harm someone or commit a serious crime.

For example, if a bail bondsman provides their services for a person with a felony charge with a bond total of $100,000, and then the criminal skips their court hearings and goes on the run after being released from jail, the bail bond agent loses all that money they paid to the court in order to release said defendant on bond. This is where a bounty hunter is outsourced, so that a bail bond company can return the fugitive to jail and receive their money back. However, in most counties and states, bounty hunting is an illegal enterprise.

Bail Bondsmen

A bail bond agent is either the person you call after being arrested, or the person you call if you need to turn yourself in for an arrest warrant. They can also provide additional services like notaries, inmate lookups, and more. They will pay the total bond amount for a non-refundable service fee so that you can be processed and released from jail to await your court hearing at home. Depending on the crime and charges, bond amounts will differ. In most states, bail bondsmen are allowed to charge anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of a person’s total bond amount.

If a person was arrested for an OWI and has a bond amount of 5,000 dollars, then the service fee will cost them anywhere from 500 to 750 dollars. The fee is non-refundable, and the bail bond agent gets their five thousand dollars back when the defendant show up for all their scheduled court hearings. If a person skips their mandatory court date, they are listed as a fugitive of the law and a warrant is issued for their immediate arrest. This is also an example of when bail bond agent can then hire a bounty hunter to track a person down so they can get their five thousand dollars back from the courthouse. A person that has skipped bond is not likely to qualify for bail bond services again.

Woods Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds Indiana

Woods Bail Bonds Indianapolis Indiana 317-876-9600

Call James Woods, owner and operator of Woods Bail Bonds, at 317-876-9600 for prompt and professional Indianapolis bail bond services you can trust. He and our team are licensed, bonded, and insured bail agents with decades of experience in the underwriter services industry. We offer immigration bonds, federal bonds, property bonds, probation violation bonds, arrest warrant bonds, emergency bonds, discreet bail bond services, notary services, and so much more. We have an outstanding record and long-term relationships with the local jails and courthouses all throughout Indianapolis and its outer counties. Call 317-876-9600 for information about bail bonds in Indianapolis, IN and get a friend out of jail or arrange your own release for a warrant.

How to Do a Search for Active Arrest Warrants

Indiana Inmate Search

Indiana Inmate Search 317-876-9600

Anytime you suspect there might be a warrant out for your arrest, you need to deal with it head on. This means locating the information regarding your warrant and alleged charges. Once you determine you do or do not have a warrant issued for your arrest, you can relax. If you do have an active arrest warrant issued in your name, whether you are guilty or not, it is very important to make contact with the courthouse or prosecutor as soon as possible.

Avoiding an arrest warrant is a not a desirable situation to have on your shoulders, and it can cost you additional penalties once you are finally detained or turned in. In the case of an outstanding arrest warrant, the Department of Motor Vehicles will be notified to suspend your driving license, and if you come into contact with the police, they can arrest you on the spot, at any time.

Arrest warrants do not just go away, they have to be dealt with at some point or another because the law does not forget. It is better to get the facts about your suspected charges and deal with them appropriately in a legal manner rather than avoiding a warrant and facing whatever penalties may come, later. When you are finally ready to check for your arrest warrant, be cautious and discreet so that you can arrange turning yourself into authorities on your own time and on a day you prefer.

Checking for an Active Arrest Warrant

The best way to search for an active arrest warrant, whether for you or a loved one, is to use the internet. Do not just ask a police officer, because if he finds a warrant, he has the legal obligation to arrest you on the spot, under law. If you want time to prepare for jail, then discreetly search in the privacy of your own home first by using the internet or some other source. The internet has so many portals and websites that offer free inmate searches and warrant searches. Other sites charge a minimal fee for their services. The downfall to these sites is that they typically ask for a lot of personal information that they then keep in their database. Also, some claim to be free, but later ask for a credit card; and you can never be sure if they are updated properly with accurate information.

If you do not have online access, turn to a phone book instead. You have a few options here. You can call the local county police station and ask for warrant services. They should be able to track any and all warrants for your arrest in your state. This could be risky too because, if they wanted to, the police could dispatch a cop toy our location and arrest you.

If you wish to avoid the police altogether, calling a local bail bondsman is your best option. They retain the most up-to-date records and have access to all warrant databases. Most agencies offer free warrant look-ups to the public. A licensed bail bondsman can help search for a warrant, as well as, assist you in turning yourself in and bailing yourself out. This is the best possible option to locating active arrest warrants.

Woods Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds Indiana

Woods Bail Bonds Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

When you need information about arrest warrants in Indianapolis, call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 today. Owner, James Woods, and our team of licensed, bonded, and insured bail bondsmen, are happy to answer your arrest warrant questions, around the clock. We offer 24 hour bail bond services in Indianapolis, and in many cities throughout Indiana. Our bail agents also offer free jail pickup, jail drop off, inmate searches, notary services, and much more. Call 317-876-9600 and speak with a licensed bail bondsman in Indianapolis, IN about arrest warrant bonds today.

How to Post Your Own Bail For an Outstanding Arrest Warrant

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

In many unfortunate circumstances, a person has to rely on their own personal resources and abilities to get bailed out of jail. If you are facing a misdemeanor charge and have an active warrant out for your arrest, it is time to think about turning yourself in to the authorities. The sooner you turn yourself in, the sooner you can be done with the entire ordeal. With these tips on how to post your own bail, you can feel comfortable knowing what to expect and how to care for yourself in this restless and frustrating situation.

Posting Bail

If you are waiting to turn yourself in for an outstanding arrest warrant, you are making the responsible choice. The longer you avoid this responsibility, the longer the entire legal process will take. When you first decide to turn yourself in to the jail, consult a lawyer or public defender for advice and counsel. They can instruct you on how to facilitate the best process for your particular charge and criminal record. Many public defenders and lawyers will give you free advice and consultation, so take advantage of this resource wherever you can. Every case is different, so talking to a professional about each circumstance is a huge advantage before facing your warrant. Usually, for first-time offenders and minor legal infractions, the jail and bond process are quick and simple. But as mentioned, all cases are different and become more complex depending on an individual’s prior criminal history.

Once you consult a lawyer or public defender, be sure to strictly follow their instructions, and everything should work itself out the way they described it to you in your meeting. If you cannot afford or find a legal consultant, you can still get out of jail on your own. Continue reading and learn the basics on how to bail yourself out of jail.

How to Post Bail

Once you have decided to turn yourself in to authorities, first call a local bail bond agency nearest to the jail you are turning yourself into. Talking to them first will get your foot in the door when it comes to processing all the paperwork. In some cases, the bail bond agent will have you fill out all the necessary paperwork and pay your fee, then walk or drive you to the jail themselves to finish your processing. Otherwise, they will have you complete all the paperwork and give you the instructions you need to feel comfortable going to the jail afterwards.

Once you walk into the jail and tell the desk officer you are turning yourself in for an outstanding warrant, they will take you from there and give you all the instruction you need. You will then wait to go through an entire processing routine. They will take your picture, fingerprints, book you, and more.

When you are finished being processed, the bail bond agency will facilitate your release and pick you up from the jail. Because you completed your paperwork ahead of time, you will be one step closer to completing the whole process. If you are unable to file paperwork before turning yourself in, it is not a big deal. The bail bondsman will simply take you back to their office and have you complete the forms then. Depending on the amount of traffic in the jail and the number of employees to defendants, the process can take 1-10 hours, and sometimes more. Generally, on a non-drug related charge, you can be expelled in just a few hours with the right bail bondsman. In even minor cases, you can be in and out in under an hour. If you are intoxicated, the law requires you to be sober for processing and booking. So wait until you are sober before turning yourself into jail, otherwise you will sit for at least 8 hours before they even consider processing you.

Woods Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds Indiana

Woods Bail Bonds Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 and speak with James Woods, licensed bail bondsman in Indianapolis, Indiana. He and his team of licensed, bonded, and insured bail agents are friendly and extensively experienced in the indemnity industry. You can feel calm and comfortable speaking with them about your bail bond needs or questions, and know you are getting accurate answers and information. Call 317-876-9600 and learn about arrest warrants and our 24 hour bail bond services in Indianapolis, IN today.