For most people bail bonds are something they’ll only see on television. Crime shows make a big deal out of them, and there are a few shows that even focus on bail bond companies. Most of these are just fiction, however, and few people will actually go through the process itself.
It can be a complicated, stressful, and even emotional experience. Once you’ve been arrested and booked for a crime, where do you even start with it? You could be so overwhelmed, you don’t even know what to do. It could be more straightforward than you’d think.
Let’s start with what a bail bond actually is. A type of security to ensure your appearance in court after you’re charged with a crime, it puts a financial consequence on you not turning up. In many cases, you wouldn’t be able to afford this upfront, so you might think you’d have to stay in jail.
With a bail bond company, however, you put up a fraction of the cost, with the bail bond company putting up the rest. They’re then responsible for guaranteeing you turn up to court when you’re supposed to. Consider it putting your money where your mouth is when asking to be released pending your court case.
It’s somewhat like a financial promise – or guarantee – you’ll stick to your word. Take a look at the infographic below for more information. From who you should contact when you need a bail bond, to what happens after you’ve been released on bail, there’s a decent bit you could need to know.
Infographic designed by Balboa Bail Bonds
