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 At Your Service
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 At Your Service 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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All rights reserved.2008
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