how does bail bond work in texas
Paying a smaller bail bond to a bail bond company can help them get released from jail faster. Texas bail bonds are cash or a cash equivalent that is given to the court to ensure that he or she will appear in court when ordered. Think back to our initial "how does bail work" example of So-And-So was released on a $400,000 bail. Other elements could cause the cost to rise at the bail hearing, as you will see below. How to Find Out if There is a Warrant for Your Arrest. Local lawyers are familiar with the local justice system and can help you get the right lawyer. "acceptedAnswer": { "name": "What Is a Bail Bond? Many defendants ask can bail be denied? The Texas bailbond agent will post the bail electronically once the 10 percent premium is paid. The defendant must pay the bail amount in cash, check or any other form that the court accepts once the bail has been set. Heres What College Students, Texas Penalties & Punishments for Failure to Appear in Court, Houston Drivers License Suspension Lawyer, Whether the defendant was out on bail during the arrest, Whether the defendant may be a risk to society, Whether the defendant has prior criminal convictions, Whether the defendant is on probation due to another crime conviction, Whether the defendant is considered a flight risk. For over 20 years we've worked with arrestees and their families to connect them with the best bail agents in the industry. No one wants to be in jail any longer than necessary while they wait for their trial to begin. You may also be asked to put up property as collateral. [1] A surety can be a professional bail bond agent, or a friend or family member. The defendant will have to wait for trial behind bars. . The answer is a resounding yes. Abbott blocks release of some inmates who cant pay bail. The amount of time that you will have to spend in jail before getting bailed out will vary. Instead, it's a means of guaranteeing the accused person's return to court to finalize the process of . The suspect simply accepts the bail bond and agrees to pay the interest and the cost of bail in future. So for example, if the bond is $10,000, a bounty hunter can expect to receive anywhere between $1,000 and $2,500 from the bail bondsman for locating and apprehending the fugitive. However, if the offender has no links to the Texas community and is capable of fleeing if released on bond, the bail sum may be increased. The bondsman will usually only require you to pay them 10-15% of the total bail to post a bond on your behalf. An example of a condition would be that the victim accused of domestic violence should not be contacted. Our bail experts also answer many important questions on how bail bonds work in Texas and how much bail bonds cost. Our team of attorneys and investigators are available 365 days a year, ready to come to your aid. Bail bondsmen and bail agencies typically offer bail bonds at 10% of the total bail amount. Immigrant Bail Bond These bonds are for those who have been convicted of an offense. If the court determines that it is the only way for a defendant to appear in court, bail will be set. defendants with underlying medical conditions, especially respiratory problems, and. However they might also consider other types of property. The surety bond issued by the agent acts as a guarantee that the bail will be paid in the event the defendant doesnt show up for their court date. Your information is then entered into the system and a bail amount is set for your release. The general bail bond fee charged is 10% but each county has the power to decide a minimum, maximum, or neither. The bail bond agent arranges how the defendant will get a bond bail from the bonds company. . Adhere to all of the court imposed bail bond conditions: No Driving Without A Valid Driver License, Possible GPS Monitoring and/or Home Monitoring, May not be allowed to travel a certain distance from home, Substance Abuse Monitoring (Electronic or otherwise). This is when the bail bondsman posts the bail bond for the arrestee for a fee. Contact our Houston DWI Lawyerstoday for more information about bail bonds in Texas. Learn more about how an attorney can help you with your case. If the defendant receives a bail bond and does not appear in court as required, the bail bondsman or bail agency that posted the bail bond will take the defendants collateral to pay off the remaining 90% of the bail amount, and the defendant is liable for the full amount. A bail bond is a guarantee that the defendant will appear in court on the dates required. Its difficult for one bondsman to manage all the regulations across multiple counties, so various small bail companies exist across county lines. The cons are that you dont get that 10% back. XML SITEMAP | HTML SITEMAP | PRIVACY POLICY, Bail can typically be posted in three ways. Many defendants cant raise enough to do this. Defendants unable to pay their bail may employ a bail bondsman to assist them for a fee. Bail jumping/skipping bail is a crime, and the defendant could be charged with another crime and face financial penalties. Once a person is eligible for bail, they can receive one of five different types. A person who needs Texas bail can also contact the local county bail bond board website for information. Bail is the sum of money paid by an accused person to secure a release from jail while awaiting trial. "Bail" is the security given by the accused that he will appear and answer before the proper court the accusation brought against him, and includes a bail bond or a personal bond. Surety Bond/Bail BondMany people are unable to come up with the funds required to post bail. "name": "Can You Leave the State on Bond in Texas? "mainEntity": [{ Consider the above info so that you can make the decision that is best for you. 2. Defendants who post bail and then miss a court date forfeit their bail money. Your Texas bail bondsman will explain the rules to your bond and may even have you sign an acknowledgement form alerting you to the company rules. Call us at (713) 224-4040. They are about the same as you will find in other states. . Property bonds are another type of bail that can be posted. An Appearance Bond is a contract between the parties and the Court. }, { "@type": "Answer", Bail is the amount of money that an accused person pays in order to be released from custody as they await trial. Failure to appear in court on the scheduled trial dates jeopardizes the defendant, and the court may issue an arrest warrant. The person who posted bail for the defendant will be paid their money at the conclusion of the case if the accused shows up to court on the scheduled date. The bail bond is a legal agreement between the accused and the bonds company. We have bail bong agents available on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for your convenience. The general bail bond fee charged is 10% but each county has the power to decide a minimum, maximum, or neither. If the initial bail is unreasonable, you do have options for bond reduction in Texas. . These can be for capital felonies like murder. If you cant afford to pay it, you might need to work with bail bond agencies. Research by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation (LJAF) shows that those who are in jail prior to their trial are four times as likely to be convicted and sentencing than those who were released. How Bail Bonds Work San Antonio Bail Bonds Bail bonds in San Antonio Texas are set first by a magistrate. In cases where the bail set is relatively low, this could be possible. This fee is non-refundable. Most of the time, it shouldnt be longer than 48 to 72 hours after your booking until your bail hearing. Inadvertently sharing information with jailers and other inmates could lead to them being used against them in the event of a trial. Our Denton County bail bond services can help you get released from prison quickly and affordably. Example: A bounty hunter in Texas was seeking to apprehend Ruth Garcia, who had skipped bail. Cash bond - The detainee's friends or family can pay the . 7 hours ago Web As with most states, the Texas bail bonds agent will charge a 10% fee of the total amount of the bail that has been set. Gov. Defendants who post bail must follow the terms of their release. When researching how does a bail bond work in Texas, remember to also research the reasons why bail can be denied. If youre arrested, you might be eligible for bail. Forms of Bail. They must be held in custody for processing if the offense calls for them to remain imprisoned. This means you will have a local contact as your bondsman in Texas and they should be able to quickly arrive at the jail to release you. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you need a reputable bail bondsman in Texas, Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Providers. This is a nonrefundable fee, even if the defendant shows up for trial as scheduled. Search for Texas bail bonds companies via our form above; please make sure to enter the city AND state. In addition, jail can be a hostile place with worse conditions than prison. If the defendant does not have enough collateral to post the bond, the bail bondsman or bail agent may ask the defendants friends and family to help cover bail. The fee is non-refundable and will provide a defendant with the money needed to make bail and be set free until their court appearance. The arrestee will have to pay the bail agent a fee for their service. Does Fifth Amendment Protect You From Having To Surrender Encryption Passwords To Police? Rather than having one set fee percentage that is charged for each bail bond in the state, Texas allows each county to regulate its bail bond system in accordance to T.D.I Chapter 17.04 (Texas Occupations Code). These bonds are often very costly and difficult to obtain. Bail is generally higher for felonies than for misdemeanors. If the defendant appears in court as required at the appropriate time and date, the court dissolves the bail bond and the bail agency or bail bondsman returns the collateral to the parties who posted it. The way bail works is that when a person is arrested, the defendant is booked by the authorities for the crime, brought before a judge for an arraignment, and eventually gets a bail hearing. Never sign a bond with a company that cannot do bail outside of their authorized county. You can also use a friend or family member to provide collateral and pay the fee of 10 to 15%. "contentUrl": "/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Texas-Bail-Bond-Hearing-Process-1-1.jpg", "@context": "http://schema.org", The surety bond issued by the agent acts as a guarantee that the bail will be paid in the event the defendant doesn't show up for their court date. See thefreedictionary.com and The History of Bail. A firm understanding of how bail bonds work in Texas can help you secure their release by providing you with the facts on how to appropriately interact with the system. Texas Legislature 2021. He previously served as a state and federal prosecutor and magistrate, making his content contributions extremely relevant on legal and bail related topics. A bail bond works as a surety bond, which means that the bondsman is essentially vouching for the defendant, and that they will show up to their court date. If you have the cash then, you simply pay and get bailed. }. In your typical State offense you get arrested and then a judge sets an amount for your bond.