Are All Bail Bonds the Same?

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

For anyone who wishes to get a friend or loved one out of jail following an arrest, a bail bond is the common “go-to” amenity used to achieve this safely and efficiently. Although bail bonds are well-known and commonly used to get people out of jail, many people may be unaware that there is more than just one kind of bail bond offered at a bail agency. Continue reading to learn some thought-provoking facts regarding the different types of bonds and how they are used in the bail industry.

Surety Bonds

A surety bond is the most common type of bail bond used to obtain a release from jail in the United States. It is more commonly referred to as a bail bond. The standard bail bond method involves hiring a licensed bail bondsman to enable a persons’ release from jail. Bail bondsmen are the more popular choice for anyone looking to bail a person out of jail because of the ease and affordability. Most people could never afford the pay the entire bond amount to the courts to get out of jail. A bail agency will only charge 10-15% of the bond amount (which is usually in the mid-high thousands) for their services. They parties involved with the bail process will be required to sign agreements, contracts, and other documents guaranteeing they will show up for their scheduled court hearing and not skip bond. If they do not appear for court, a warrant will be issued for their arrest, and the co-signer of the bond will be accountable to pay the remainder bond amount to the courts, or face legal penalties.

Cash Bonds

A cash bond is an unlikely choice for many U.S. citizens who are arrested and detained on minor charges. The reason for this is that a cash bond requires a person to pay the courts the full bond amount, usually between $2,000 and $10,000, but upwards of $20,000 to $30,000 or more, depending on the charges and criminal history of the defendant. In many cases, people do not have this type of cash on hand, and if they did, could not afford to hand it over to the courts until their court date. Although it is expensive to use a cash bond, it is refundable so long as the person follows the courts rules and appears for all scheduled hearings.

Property Bonds

A property bond is typically used in major criminal cases that involve serious charges and high bond amounts. If a person is arrested on such charges, in order to obtain a release from jail, rather than wait in a jail cell for weeks until their court date, they can use a property bond. To use a property bond, a person must forgo their most expensive assets (i.e. houses, property, vehicles, stocks, etc.) to the court in exchange for their release from jail. After they show for their court dates and follow all instructions handed down by the judge, they will receive their properties back in their name.

There are several other types of bail bonds used in the industry as well. Stay tuned for next weeks blog to dive into some more bail bond definitions! In the mean time, call a licensed Indianapolis bail bonds for all your questions about bail, bonds, and more!

Woods Bail Bonds

Woods Bail Bonds Indiana

Woods Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 to get a friend or loved one out of jail in Indianapolis. Owner and licensed bail bondsman, James Woods, can offer safe and secure releases from any Indiana county jails. We offer bail bond services for misdemeanor arrests, felony arrests, DUI’s, OWI’s, probation violations, arrest warrants, and much more. Call 317-876-9600 to learn how to get out of jail in Indianapolis or its surrounding counties.

The Difference Between Bail and Bail Bond

Bail Bonds Indianapolis 317-876-9600

Bail Bonds Indianapolis 317-876-9600

Tomato tomahto, right? Well not in the surety industry. Often times, people confuse the terms bail and bail bond. Many people use the terms interchangeably, as if they mean the same thing, while others question how to use each term appropriately. If you are faced with the responsibility of bailing someone out of jail, you might want to be clear on these terms ahead of time. Continue reading to learn how bail is different from a bail bond.

What is Bail?

Bail refers to the amount of money set by a judge for a person to be released from jail to await their scheduled court hearings. The amount of money set by the courts is determined by the person’s past criminal record, current offense, and their level of threat to society. Their level of threat includes the likelihood of them committing another crime while awaiting sentencing.

Bail can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over five thousand dollars. Again, it all depends on the person’s record and the current charges their facing. Once the person pays the bail to the courts, and the money has “cleared” or been posted, the person can be let out of jail. If they complete all their court ordered requirements without any criminal indiscretions, they will receive the money back in full. If they fail to meet the court’s requirements, they lose rights to any monies paid, and will be arrested for court violation.

What is a Bail Bond?

A bail bond refers to a service or contract that facilitates a person’s release from jail by using a bail bondsman. The bail amounts set by courts can be very high and not everyone has that kind of cash available to them at once. In this case, a bail agency can be hired to secure a person’s release from jail. The agency guarantees the courts that you will appear for your scheduled hearing, and in return they allow the person to await their sentencing dates at home. The bail bondsman collects a non-refundable fee, usually between 10-15% depending on the state. If a person fails to appear for their hearing, the bail company will take professional and necessary means to search them down and bring them in to face the judge.

Woods Bail Bonds

Bail Bonds Hamilton County

Hamilton County Bail Bonds 317-770-7400

Call Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 to get out of jail in Hamilton County, Indiana. Owner and licensed bail bondsman, James Woods, and our team of experienced bail agents, are happy to answer your questions about bail, bonds, arrest warrants, turning yourself in, jail information, and more. Call 317-876-9600 for 24 hour bail bond services in Hamilton County, IN you can trust.

Bail Bond Terms and Definitions

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Terms on the topic of law enforcement, courts, trials, charges, and more can all be very confusing for a first-time criminal. It is important for anyone arrested or suspected of a crime to fully understand the proceedings of the law and what to expect. One must educate themselves on the law and the terms used to describe the circumstances in which they face. The initial step in learning how to understand legal and jail jargon is to catch up on some basic terms and definitions commonly used.

Below is a list of terms you should be familiar with if you or a loved one has been arrested, convicted, charged, or suspected of a crime.

Bail Bond Glossary

Arrest

Individuals that have committed a crime are arrested and taken to the county jail by law enforcement. They are detained in jail until they can make bail or go to court.

Jail

County detention center where criminals are detained under law; either serving a sentence or awaiting trial.

Inmate

A person that is detained in jail for committing a crime; either serving time or awaiting trial.

Bail

Money paid in place of an inmate’s temporary release from jail while awaiting their initial hearing. Individuals who deposit the bail take on the responsibility of the inmate. They have to forfeit the money paid if the inmate fails to appear for their hearing.

Bail Bond

A written contract used to release an inmate from legal custody, usually between a bail bondsman and/or other surety; but only upon the guarantee that an inmate appear for their scheduled court hearing. If they fail to appear, the bail bondsman or guarantor forfeits the money paid for their release from jail. If the inmate shows for their hearing, the guarantor or surety receives their money deposit back in full.

Bail Bondsman

A person or company that acts as a surety and pledges the full bond amount to the courts in trade for an inmate’s release from jail; on the guarantee that the inmate appear for their court date, otherwise forfeiting the money paid. These agencies charge a non-refundable fee that is a legally-mandated percentage of an inmate’s total bond amount (Generally 10-15%).

Indemnitor

The person that co-signs, guarantees, and is responsible for an inmate’s appearance in court. The indemnitor is held accountable for the entire bond amount, plus additionally incurred fees (i.e. fugitive recovery fees, filing fees, processing fees, legal costs, etc.), if an inmate misses their hearing.

Collateral

Property given in place of cash to a bail bondsman in trade for services rendered (i.e. boats, cars, fine jewelry, real estate, etc.).

Failure to Appear – FTA

Absent for scheduled mandatory court hearings. This is an additional criminal charge.

Forfeiture

In the case of an FTA, an indemnitor or guarantor must pay courts bond in full or relinquish collateral pledged for an inmate’s bail. The courts generally send a “Notice of Forfeiture” to the bail bondsman to disclose an inmate’s FTA and date in which the bond amount must be paid in full to the court.

Fugitive

An inmate that has failed to appear for their scheduled court date, an escapee from a corrections facility, or individuals that have a warrant out for their arrest.

Arrest Warrant

A legal decree that gives law enforcement permission arrest an individual that is a known fugitive or suspected of a crime. FTA’s also have warrants issued for their arrest. For example, if a person is pulled over for a traffic violation and has an arrest warrant, they can be arrested and taken to jail on the spot.

Aiding and Abetting

Knowingly providing money, food, help, assistance, or shelter to a fugitive.

Now that you have a better understanding of what terms and jargon to expect when getting involved in legal dealings and the bail industry, you can be confident contacting a bail bondsman for professional guidance and service. Choose a bail bond company that has an established and respected reputation within your community. They will have the best relationships with the local law enforcement, jails, and courts.

Woods Bail Bonds in Indianapolis, IN

Woods Bail Bonds Indiana 317-876-9600

Woods Bail Bonds Indiana 317-876-9600

Call James Woods at 317-876-9600 for more information about bail bond services in Indianapolis, Indiana. He and our team of licensed, bonded, and insured bail bondsmen are eager to help you understand the bail bond industry by answering all of your bail and arrest warrant questions. We provide services in several counties within Indiana and offer 24 hour assistance, seven days a week. If you have an arrest warrant, or need to bail a friend out of jail, we are the highly trained, professional, and experienced Indianapolis bail bondsman to trust. Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 today!