What You Need to Know about Bail Bonds

Between the time a defendant is arrested and the start of his trial date, the defendant could spend this entire period in jail until the start of the trial. However, a defendant may be granted bail which will allow the defendant to be released from jail to await the trial start date at home. If you have been arrested and have a bail hearing approaching, contact an attorney to help you get a fair release with no bond or a lower priced bond. The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA are dedicated to getting you the best possible outcome. Our Columbia and Glen Burnie bail hearing attorneys are devoted and practiced in handling bail hearings. We will be there at every step of your case fighting fiercely on your behalf.

What is Bail?

Bail is a set amount of money the defendant pays in order to be released from jail pending his trial date. The court keeps the money until the criminal trial is complete. Along with the monetary payment, the defendant must guarantee to make all court mandated appearances. If the defendant fails to make a court appearance, bail will be revoked and the bail money paid is lost. An arrest warrant may be issued for the defendants for failure to appear and additional criminal charges may be added.

Posting Bail

There are several factors the court considers when assessing whether to grant bail and if granted, the amount of bail to be paid. The court will look at the seriousness of the charges, if it was a violent crime, whether the defendant will be a danger to the community or his victim, the defendant’s criminal history, and the likelihood of the defendant returning to court for future proceedings. There are several ways to post bail:

Personal Recognizance

This is the best choice because it allows the defendant to be released from jail without having to pay any money because no bail is set. This option is usually reserved for defendants who have h5 ties to the community and are not considered a flight risk. They have no or limited criminal history and are charged with a non-violent crime. The defendant is responsible for appearing at all scheduled court dates.

Cash Bonds

The defendant is required to pay the full amount of the bail. The defendant will get the money back as long as he makes his court appearances. If the defendant fails to appear in court, he forfeits the cash bond to the court.

Surety Bond

This the most common form of bail. If high bail amounts are set, a surety bond is the most helpful method. Friends and family meet with a bail bondsman on behalf of the defendant. A contractual agreement is then made between the defendant and the bail bondsman. The bail bondsman pays the entire bail amount for the defendant. The defendant or his family pay a premium to the bail bondsman in return. If the defendant does not make his court appearances the bondsman agrees to pay the court the entire bail amount. If the defendant appears in court, the bail bondsman will get a full return of the bond money. In addition, the bail bondsman generally charges a non-refundable fee.

Don’t Risk Your Freedom

Hiring a lawyer can help your chances of getting released on bond. Do not risk your chances and spend substantial time in jail awaiting your trial. An Anne Arundel County and Howard County criminal defense attorney can represent you at your bail hearing and advocate for your release with no bail or for a reasonably low bail amount. You need an experienced lawyer to fight on your behalf from the start of your case. The bail hearing is just the first step in a tedious process; our knowledgeable and assertive lawyers are here to help.

Resource:

mdcourts.gov/district/bondsmen/rule4217.pdf