Someone you know has just been arrested, this page will walk you through the process and hopefully put your mind at ease, knowing the process of bonding out of jail. The first thing you should be aware of is that this process takes time, regardless if the severity of the charges. Although the process of bonding out of jail is a lengthy one, rest assured the individual in question will get out, if the case is bondable.
Before you can post bond the defendant will go through the booking process. The process typically takes 1-3 hours but can take as long as 12 hours depending on how busy the jail is at the time of booking. If you have been charged with DUI, you will be held until your alcohol level drops below a specified level. A bail bondsman has no control over how long you will be held. The more corporative the defendant during the booking process can have some bearing on how long it will take to be booked.
If a bond is set then you have several options when it comes to their release from jail. The defendant can choose to stay in jail and await disposition of the case or a bond reduction hearing (if the bond is more than you can or will pay). You can put up the full amount of bond in cash (full or most of the amount will be returned after the case is closed). Or you can contact a bail bondsman, Oncall Bail Bonds, who will charge 10% of the bond amount (10% is mandated by Florida state law).
Depending on your financial situation you will probably deal with a bail bond company unless you have enough money to post the entire amount. Usually, the amount of your bond is set according to the offense for which you were arrested. If your arrest is minor, and your bail is set at $4,000, then you would pay a bail bondsman $400 to avoid spending more time in jail. After your bond is paid you will be released from jail and ordered to follow the conditions of your bond.
When a bondsman writes a bond, he is promising the courts that the defendant will be present at every required court appearance. If the defendant fails to appear, the bondsman will attempt to locate them and return the defendant to jail. If the bond agent cannot locate the missing defendant after 60 days, he will have to give the clerk the full amount of the bond.
If you choose to use a bail bond agent to post bail, you must pay the bond agents fee, and may also have to hand over collateral or sign a security agreement. Should the defendant comply with bond conditions, the bond agent will return the collateral or release the lien upon the conclusion of the case. The bond agent’s fee (10% of the total bail amount) is not returned no matter the outcome.
Contact Oncall Bail Bonds now to discuss your individual situation and assist you with prompt services. We maintain the confidentiality of the situation and our agents treat every client with respect. Call us at 954-260-6288 to learn more about our services.