What is bail?
Bail refers to the cash or bond provided to guarantee the defendant’s appearance in court in return for the defendant’s release until the court date or dates. By posting bail, bail bondsmen ensure a defendant’s constitutional right to remain free from custody pending trial.
When you least expect it, life throws you a curve ball. Sometimes we do things we know could impact our freedom and sometimes we just make a very stupid or bad decision. Sometimes you are simply an innocent person wrongly arrested. Whatever the case may be, you may find yourself arrested and in custody. This is when Mad Cat Bail Bonds can help you and your loved ones at a time of stress and confusion.
If you are able to post the entire amount of the bond by yourself or if you have a bondsman's help, you will most likely be out of jail within a few hours for many charges. Magistrates, who set the bonds, are available 24 hours a day throughout Virginia either in person or by video conferencing.
There are times when you simply do not have enough assets or cash on hand to pay the entire bond on your own and you have to look to a bondsman for help. To process your bond, you will most likely need a co-signer ( sometimes referred to as the Indemnitor) and possibly additional collateral if the bond is large. You may be asked to provide more detailed information and to have available various phone numbers and addresses of friends and family members, proof of residence (such as lease papers and or utility or phone bill , driver's license number and auto tag, insurance and or loan information). Having this information available at the time of bonding will help the Bondsman to process your bond more quickly.
Bondsmen guarantee to the court that the bondee will report to the court at the prearranged times until the charges are settled and your released by the courts. Since the bondsmen know that if you don't show up for your appearances in court that they will be responsible for your entire bond costs to the court, they will do everything necessary to make sure you do appear for your hearings. This benefits the judicial system and makes the wheels of justice continue to grind.
A bondsman will make it possible for you to continue your life, keep your job, enable you to continue to support your family and stay in the good graces in the courts. You can do more for yourself and your family out of jail, than in jail so it makes sense for you to make every effort to 'bond out".
At Your Service Bail Bonds serves all of Virginia but we are only minutes away from the following jails including, Newport News Jail, Hampton Jail, Middle Peninsula Regional Jail located in Saluda, Gloucester County Jail, Henrico County Jail East in Barhamsville which is located in New Kent County near the city of West Point, Henrico County Jail West located on Parham Road in Richmond, Lancaster County Jail in the city of Lively , Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail located in Williamsburg, Northern Neck Regional Jail located in Warsaw, Richmond County, Richmond City Jail, Richmond Lockup, Warsaw
What are the types of bail bonds?
The main types include the following:
A surety bond:
A contract with a bail agent for the bail amount. A surety (insurance) company underwrites the bond in exchange for payment of a premium percentage of the bail’s full amount. Some form of collateral secures the remaining bond amount.
A cash bond:
The full amount of bail posted by the defendant in cash.
A federal bond:
A bond for cases that deal with federal offenses (like interstate crimes).
An immigration bond:
A bond set for someone held by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (such as an immigration violation).
What is collateral?
Collateral must cover the amount of bail, as it backs the defendant’s promise to show up in court. Some examples of collateral include vehicles, property, jewelry, stocks, bank accounts and certain other assets.
Do I get my money back after the defendant goes to court?
The defendant must make the required court appearance(s) and the case must be decided. Then the collateral gets released and the bond gets exonerated (released from obligation) based on the court appearance and decision. You do not get back the money paid to a bondsman, as this amount is the bondsman’s compensation for getting the defendant out of jail before the court appearance(s).
What if the defendant I bail doesn’t show up to court?
In this case, the court will issue an arrest warrant, and the co-signer (usually a family member or friend who arranges for bail) will become responsible for the bail’s full amount.
In what court will the person I bail have his case heard?
In Virginia, the two main types of courts are general district courts and circuit courts. General district courts handle most traffic violations and cases for misdemeanors, which are less-serious criminal cases punishable by up to a year in jail. Circuit courts hear felony cases, which relate to more serious criminal matters like homicide, robbery and burglary.
How can I get more information?
For a free consultation, or more details about bail in Virginia, contact Mad Cat Bail Bonds at 1-800-918-2636.
- Virginia
Serving all of Virginia ,
Including , Essex, Gloucester, James City, King & Queen,
King William, New Kent, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland, and York counties.
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