Arrest and Booking

After arrest, the accused is usually taken to a detention facility for booking. This involves recording personal information, taking photos and fingerprints, documenting information about the alleged crime, searching the records for any previous offenses or outstanding warrants, and placing the accused in a holding cell.

Bail

After arrest and booking, the bail is set. Bail is required to be set within twelve hours of the issuance of the complaint. A judge or magistrate normally sets the bail amount . Because people usually want to get out of jail immediately (instead of waiting to see a judge), most jails have standard bail schedules that specify bail amounts for common crimes. The bail system is designed to guarantee the appearance of the defendant in court. If bail is posted (and there are no other charges pending) the defendant is released until the charges are resolved. The defendant remains free on bail as long as he or she meets the conditions of the bail. Some defendants may be required to post a higher bail, or may be denied bail. In setting or denying bail, the the judge or magistrate's first concern is the protection of the community, taking into account the seriousness of the offense and previous criminal record of the accused.

Release Options

Release on Own Recognizance-R.O.R (or P.R.- Personal Recognizance) is a pre-trial release without any financial security to ensure the appearance of the defendant at court. Release on O.R. is usually given when the defendant is charged with a minor offense, has strong ties to the community (such as full-time employment, property ownership, long-time residence and family in the area) and is deemed a low flight risk.

A Cash Bond is made when an individual posts the total amount of the bail (not just 10%) in cash. The defendant may be his or her own guarantor. If the defendant does not appear, the cash bond is forfeited. The cash bond option may be allowed for traffic and other minor violations. However, most states now require a licensed bond agent to guarantee larger bonds.

Property Bond Occaisonally an individual may be released from custody by posting a property bond with the court. The court records a lein (or right) on the property to guarantee the bail amount. However, this type of bond is rare, and is allowed in only a few jurisdictions.

Surety Bond (Common Bail Bond) When a professional bail bond agency guarantees a defendant's appearance in court, it's called a surety bond. The bond agency is fully liable for the bail if the defendant does not appear. In turn, the bond agency charges a premium for this service (usually 4-15% of the bond amount). Additionally, the bailbond agent often requires collateral from a guarantor (the family member or friend who is seeking the release of the accused). Because this person usually knows the defendant well, he or she is willing to take partial responsibility for guaranteeing that the defendant will appear in court.

Court Appearance

There are several things you and the defendant need to be aware of regarding the court appearances and the consequences of failing to appear at the appointed time.

Tardiness If the defendant is late for court, technically the bond can be forfeited. The court may interpret the defendant's failure to appear as a willful act and issue a bench warrant. If you know that the accused will be late for their court appearance, please contact the bail company and the court clerk immediately. The defendant should check in with the bailiff when they arrive in court. It's better to make a late appearance than not to appear at all.

Failure to Appear If the defendant fails to appear in court at the appointed time, a bench warrant will be issued for that person's arrest, he or she will be reported as a fugitive to the police, and the bail bond will be forfeited. At this time, the bail agency will try to locate the person by calling his home, employer, and other references and attempt to convince him or her to turn himself in to the local authorities and rescehdule a court date.

Flight In rare cases, the defendant may try to flee. The bail bond agency has the right to turn the defendant over to a law enforcement agency at any time, if the defendant is considered likely to flee. The bond agency also has the legal right to hire apprehension agents to pursue and seize the defendant, even if they have fled to another state. Additionally, bail agents have the right to use forcible entry without a warrant or court order when pursuing a fugitive. As a person who has guaranteed the appearance by posting collateral, you would want to convince the fugitive to surrender himself/herself to to the authorities as soon as possible. If you've bailed someone out of jail and suspect that they are going to flee, please call us immediately so your financial responsibilities may be lessened or removed.