How Bail Bonds Work
If your friend or family member has been arrested, chances are they will need someone to post bail on their behalf. How does this work? If you find yourself in this situation, you have some options to consider.
The Defendant’s Bail Process:
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A person gets arrested and booked for a crime and is considered a defendant.
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The defendant is held in jail while waiting for an initial court appearance, or “arraignment.” This is a brief hearing where the judge sets a bond amount that must be paid before the person is released from jail.
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Once the judge sets the bond, either the defendant, a friend, or a family member can pay the full amount of the bond.
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If no one has enough money to pay the full bail amount they can call a bail bondsman. This way, they only need to pay a small percentage of the bond to get their loved one out of jail.
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After the bond is paid, the defendant is released from jail.
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The defendant must appear at all court dates for the bond to remain active. Failure to appear may result in loss of money, collateral and, most importantly, the defendant’s freedom.