A surety bond or bail bond is a legal agreement involving a court, a defendant, and a bail bond agent. When a person is detained for a crime, they might be required to pay bail to gain release from prison pending their trial. Bail bond agents assist in situations where individuals cannot afford the bail amount. Also known as bail bondsmen, they assist defendants in securing their release by posting a guarantee to the court that the defendant will attend all scheduled court dates.
The agent provides this service in exchange for a non-refundable fee which typically amounts to approximately 10% of the total bail amount.
However, it is crucial to comprehend the conditions of the arrangement and the likely results if the accused misses their court date. In cases where a defendant is absent during court proceedings, the bail bond agent is held accountable for paying the entire bail amount to the court. The agent would try to find and capture the defendant to avoid such a situation.
Bail bond agents must meet specific requirements in their state and work under specific rules. They usually work for bail bond firms and are accessible around the clock to support defendants and their loved ones in funding bail. Furthermore, bail agents can take legal action against defendants who do not appear in court and bring them back to confinement.
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