Bail Bonds in Buffalo, NY

Bail Bonds

If you have been arrested for a serious crime, you have to stay in jail while waiting for the bail hearing. In return, you will be allowed to walk free even if you are still undergoing trial for a criminal or civil charge. Unless the offender can produce the required amount, or unless he or she can get assistance through a bail bondsman, he or she is not allowed to get out of jail until the court hearing. But that does not always have to be the case; they can also seek the services of a bail bondsman.

It is a sad fact that a lot of individuals have no choice but to spend some time in jail because they are unable to come up with the required amount. There’s a reason why the correctional system is overburdened. Bail agents can get the amount of bail amount needed from the jail if you cannot provide this information.

Why Does a Judge Impose a Bail Bond?

A bail bond is a surety bond that is provided by a bonding company to help secure the release of an arrested person so they can await their court hearing outside of jail. The law allows two kinds of bail bond —a criminal bail bond and a civil bail bond.

A criminal bail bond is the type used in criminal cases. For instance, the judge will look at your criminal record, the severity of the crime you are accused of, whether you are a flight risk and if you can afford the bail. Failing to appear in court, however, leads to the bond getting forfeited and the defendant possibly getting arrested.

Civil bail bonds, meanwhile, are for use in civil cases. They serve to guarantee payment of debts, interest, and other costs that may be charged against the defendant.

The Importance of Having a Bail Bondsman

Using a bail bondsman is one of the most cost-effective ways of getting out of jail. In most states, the rate for a bail bond is at 10% of the bail amount, which gives you an affordable opportunity to get released from jail. That is considered reasonable, considering that the company is also taking some risk in putting up the bond. You can just call a bail agent who will offer you a deal and ask you to provide the required information about yourself, or somebody you want to bail out.
Moreover, you need not bother yourself with the complicated judicial process in posting bail since the bonding company will take care of that to facilitate your release from jail. You contact the bail agent, provide some basic information about yourself or the person you want to bail out, and they will post the bail on your behalf. Before you know it, you are free and enjoying dinner with your loved ones. It will not be long before you get to enjoy your freedom until you will be called in again for your next court appearance. Second, you get a bigger chance of having your bail petition approved by virtue of the reputation of the bondsman alone.

While you do not necessarily need to look angelic before a judge, you certainly will want to look responsible at the very least. A bail bondsman can help you with this so you will look your best in the presence of a judge.

What is the Surety and Bail Bonds Process?

In case you get arrested and charged with an alleged felony, the first thing that you must do is to contact a good lawyer and someone, perhaps the lawyer himself, who can connect you to a bail agent to start the bail bonds process. Use the one phone call you are allowed to make to contact a reliable family or friend who you can ask to search for a qualified bondsman for you. The bondsman will then offer you an arrangement for the posting of your bail bond. Provide your details to the agent as soon as he contacts you so he can then make the necessary arrangements and process your release. Once the deal is made, the bondsman will proceed with the steps to secure your release.

What Information Should I Have When Contacting a Bail Bondsman?

When you contact bonds agents, they will need to know:

• The defendant’s complete name
• The location and name of the jail where the defendant is currently detained
• The booking number from the police blotter
• Charges filed and any other related information

What Constitutes the Collateral?

Your lack of immediate cash is the primary reason why you are seeking the help of a bail bondsman. But of course bail bond companies will not shell out money on your behalf without a guarantee that they will be paid back. Now as to the type of collateral, the list is just too long to mention all.

Bond companies accept collaterals in the form of various assets such as the following:

• Real estate
• Vehicles (land, sea, and air)
• Shares of stocks/securities
• Jewelry
• Electronics

The amount you have to pay back should not deter you from hiring a bondsman as these fees are regulated by law. State regulations ensure that you are not underpaying nor overpaying for your bail bond. Most of them operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all the more to help your loved one to spend the least amount of time in jail as possible. Bail bondsmen in Buffalo allow defendants to focus on their case and be in a more comfortable environment other than being in jail as they await trial. For a company that stays true to its commitment to serve your best interest, freeing your loved one is a priority.