The How And Why Of Using Bail Bond Services
It can be really scary to have a loved one arrested and charged with a crime, no matter what the charge is. It's a situation that is rarely planned for and may leave you scrambling. There's a lot to get done. Your loved one will need a lawyer, you'll need to make sure that their bills are taken care of (if possible). If you're not their significant other and they have children, you may need to arrange some kind of child care. All of that, and you also have to deal with the bail situation.
If you can't afford to cover the bail, that's okay. This is exactly what bail bonds are for.
How Bail Bond Services Work
In most cases, the bond service will take a percentage of the bail in cash and will want the rest in collateral. They will get your loved one released, and hold the collateral in case they need to use it to pay the bail total. If your loved one goes to court as they are ordered, that won't come up and the collateral will be released back to the owners.
Why People Use Bail Bonds
There's a variety of reasons why people use bonds. Here are some brief examples.
Getting your loved one released from jail can give them the freedom to work before the trial, meaning they'll be better able to stay on top of bills and earn money to pay their defense lawyer. It will also allow them to spend more time with their family and loved ones and care for their children. If your loved one feels they are likely to be convicted, being out of jail can give them the freedom to start making arrangements. For example, terminating their lease, perhaps, and finding a longer-term solution for their child care.
It also allows them to dress better for the trial. Defendants who are in jail often will not be able to change clothes before their court appearance, and it's strongly believed that being able to dress appropriately helps with trial outcomes. There's no strong evidence for or against it, but it does make sense when you think about it. It's kind of an innate behavior to judge people based on their appearance all the time. This article talks about the art of dressing defendants, but it's an art your loved one may not even be able to participate in if they are still in jail and wearing prison jumpsuits to trials.
It's not an easy situation to be in, and there's a lot of hard decisions to make. Getting your loved one out on bail doesn't have to be one of them.
For more information, contact a bail bond service today.
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