ABOUT BAIL BONDS
Bail Bonds
How Do Bail Bonds Work?
A bail bond agent is a person, agency, or corporation acting as a surety and posting bail for a defendant. In exchange for the funds or collateral needed to post bail, the defendant promises to attend all scheduled court appearances. If the defendant fails to do this, the bail bond agent is allowed in certain states to search for the defendant, usually using “bounty hunters,” in order to recover the amount posted for bail. However, in Florida, bounty hunters are prohibited from apprehending fugitives. To apprehend someone in The Sunshine State, a bail bond agent must be “qualified, licensed, and appointed.”
If you or someone you love is arrested in Florida, just give the names, date of birth, and county of detention to the bail bond agent. A copy of your Florida driver’s license must also be given. Once all the paperwork is filled out, bail will be paid by the agent and the defendant will be released until the next scheduled court date. A person that communicates with the bail bond agent on your behalf is called the indemnitor.
Once the case has completed and the bond has been discharged, any property or other collateral put up to post the bond amount will be returned to the indemnitor, minus any fees. In general, the bail bond process takes around five hours.
What is the Fee on a Bail Bond?
Once the bail amount is set by the judge, the bail bond agent charges an upfront fee. In Florida, this fee is preset at 10% of the listed bond. However, in federal cases, 15% is required, so exceptions are given to them. This fee is non-refundable and acts as a payment to the bail bond agent for services rendered.
What Affects the Bail Amount?
Crimes such as petty theft will have a lower bail amount than a crime like grand larceny or more violent crimes. If someone has an extensive criminal history, it is quite likely the bail amount will be increased. Significant differences exist in costs of bail bonds depending on the charge being a misdemeanor vs a felony – felony charges can be 5 to 10 times higher due to the potential flight risk from a possible long-term sentence.
When Can Bail Be Posted?
Many petty crimes have a set bail amount, and in this case, bail is able to be posted immediately after being processed. In other cases, bail cannot be posted until after the bail hearing. The advantage of having to remain in jail until a bail hearing is that an attorney can be hired to help argue for a reduced bail amount.
Request For Bail Bond Service
If you're interested in learning more about our bail bond services, please contact our office today. Our bail bond agent is proud to serve residents across Crestview, Destin, DeFuniak Springs, Fort Walton Beach, FL and the surrounding areas.