If you find that you or a loved one have gotten into trouble with the law, you will likely find that you need to post bail. However, you might be unsure what that is and how it applies to you. Here is what you need to know about what bail is and how the process works.
What is Bail?
Bail is a sum of money that you must pay before you get released from jail. A judge decides what the amount will be. The judge will take into account your potential criminal past and the crime that you have committed. Typically, people who have committed more heinous crimes or have a lengthy criminal history have a higher bail amount.
Generally speaking, the bail bond is a contract between you and the government to ensure that you will appear at all of your future court dates. If you fail to appear for any of your required court appearances, you lose the entire bond amount paid.
How Can You Pay It?
If your bail amount is low, you may be able to pay it yourself or ask family members to pay it for you. However, you may need to rely on a bail bonds Scranton PA agent if it’s a high amount.
When you work with an agent to pay your bail, they will pay your bail in exchange for a fee from you. Most bail bond agents charge a 10% fee, but it could vary depending on the laws in your state. For example, if your bail amount is $20,000, the agent would pay the court the entire amount and then charge you $2,000 as their fee.
If you fail to show up to your court dates after you’ve signed an agreement with the agent and get released from jail, you will be required to pay the entire bail amount back to the bail bond agent.
