Bail bondsmen offer a very specific service, and if you are arrested and put in jail, you may need to find one that can help you get released. While not every bondsman will take every bail request, you may need to call a couple before you find the right one to help you.

Getting Bail

If you are arrested and put in jail, you may be able to get bailed out right away, but this is only the case for minor crimes like public intoxication or fighting. The majority of criminal offenses require you to be arraigned before bail is set, and the bondsman can bail you out. 

Once the bail amount is set, you can call a bondsman, and they will come to the jail and go over the bail agreement with you. If the terms are acceptable to both of you, the bondsman will pay the bail, and you will be released while you await trial for the charges you are facing. 

Getting out of jail does not mean you can do anything you want while awaiting trial, and most bondsmen have strict guidelines that you will need to follow. The bail bonds company or the bondsman can revoke your bail at any time and return you to jail if they feel you are a risk, so it is essential that you follow the rules they set when you were released. 

Bail Requirements

Most bail bonds services will require you to put up ten to fifteen percent of the bail in cash when you are released. If you do not have the cash, you may need to have a friend or family member loan it to you to pay the bondsman. 

There are some situations where the bail is exceptionally high, and the only way to pay your percentage is to use some collateral like a house that you own or a vehicle that has a high value. Typically you can only use collateral if you own it outright and there is no lien on it. 

If you fail to appear in court, the collateral you put up will be forfeit, and the bondsman can then claim and sell the property or item to recover their money. If you do not appear, not only is the bail revoked, but the bondsman will track you down and return you to jail to ensure they do not lose the money they paid for your release. 

Most bondsmen do not want to deal with selling collateral to recover their money, so if you skip bail, you will be tracked to stand trial.