You are probably already familiar with the fact that when you are arrested for a crime, you will likely be taken into custody by police. Once you are arrested and booked, you may also have the option to be bailed out. This is probably where your understanding gets fuzzy.
What does “posting bail” mean, exactly? It means that in exchange for your freedom as you wait for your court date, you will put forward money as a guarantee that you will show up to court as directed. By posting bail, you will be able to avoid sitting in jail. And when you are not stuck in jail, you will be better able to prepare your defense (i.e., obtaining a criminal defense attorney).
For most people, there are two basic ways to post bail. The first is called a “cash bail” which means that you pay the full bail amount. This means that if bail were to be set at $25,000, paying every cent of the $25,000 will allow you to go free while you wait for your court date. If you post a full cash bail, the court will hold onto that money and return it to you if you make all of your court appearances in the matter. This creates a strong incentive for people to show up to court.
The second method is more common. This method involves the use of bail bondsmen. A bail bondsman is someone who has the money to pay the full bail amount and promises to pay the court if you fail to appear on a court date. In exchange for this promise, the bail bondsman will typically charge you about 10% of the total bail. Through this method, you will only have to pay 10% of the full bail amount to be released. Of course, if you don’t show up to court, the bail bondsman will be stuck paying the full bail amount to the court. The bail bondsman, therefore, will be putting a lot of faith in you to show up.
Sometimes, it is possible to gain your freedom without posting bail at all. To better answer your questions about what options are available to you in terms of posting bail, you need to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have been in practice for over 30 years and can help you decide on the best course of action. Call us today at 888-749-0034 or visit us online at www.wklaw.com. We will be there for you when you call.
