What Are Bail Bonds?

by | Sep 9, 2014 | Law

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When someone is arrested and charged with a crime, depending on the circumstances the individual may be granted the opportunity to pay bail. Bail is a monetary payment the arrested person gives to the court to allow them temporary freedom until they must return to court for their trial. The payment helps to provide assurance to the court that the accused will indeed turn up on future court dates because if the person fails to appear the bail money is forfeited. There is always the desire on the part of the defendant to get out of jail as quickly as possible but at times the amount of bail that is set by the court is excess of the amount of money the accused can pay, in cases like this it is nice to know that emergency bail bonds in Mason City Iowa are available.

Bail bonds are very useful as the accused can get released from jail by paying a small percentage of the bail amount, often only 10 percent; a bail bond agency puts up the balance. As the court returns the bail when the defendant shows up for the trial the money goes back to the bonding agency, the agency keeps the 10 percent that you as the defendant contributed as their profit.
A lot has to do with the crime the individual is charged with but bail can be both an amount from a preset schedule or the amount can be set at a bail hearing, often held at the same time as the arraignment. To create a financial incentive for the accused to show up for all future court dates the court demands bail money which is commensurate with the seriousness of the crime. The bail amount can easily exceed the capabilities of many people so they are left with two options; stay in jail awaiting trial or arrange for emergency bail bonds in Mason City Iowa.

Bail bonds are normally available every day of the week, 24 hours a day. When the accused is released from jail it gives him or her time to prepare for the upcoming trial and to continue to provide for their family. As the US court system is overwhelmed with cases, being allowed out on bail also helps to reduce the overcrowding in jails, this in turn reduces the cost as there are not as many people to house and feed.

If you are arrested and charged with a crime you may need help with emergency bail bonds in Mason City Iowa.