If you or a loved one has been arrested, there are some decisions that will have to be made, one of which is the type of bail to pay. You may be released on your own recognizance depending on the crime, your criminal history, community ties, and other factors that lead the court to believe that you will show up at your court dates to face the consequences of your actions.
There’s a chance you will be denied bail if you are high risk or if you are believed to be a danger to society. Most likely, the court will set a bail amount, also dependent on the crime and your history. With bail, you have the opportunity to pay the cash bail with the court or go through a bail bond agent to obtain which allows you to pay a portion of the bail.
For many, there’s no choice here, paying the full amount to the court is simply an option they can’t afford. But if you can, if you have enough money for the cash bail, should you pay it?
Pros for Cash Bond
With a cash bond, you’re dealing directly with the court. There’s no middle man (the bond agent) and the entire process is pretty straightforward: the defendant and/or family pays the court the amount of the bail. There’s no searching for a bail bond agent and qualifying for and arranging the bond.
Pros for a Bail Bond
With a bail bond, you only need to come up with the premium of 10% and the bond agent covers the rest with the court. As long as you make it to your appointed court dates, that’s all you’ll pay (minus court fees).
Bail bond agents like those at Mercy Bail Bonds, are highly knowledgeable and can help guide you every step of the way. A lot happens quickly when you’re arrested and it’s helpful to have an experienced and well-informed agent working for you.
Cons of Cash Bail
With cash bail, if bail is set at $10,000 and you pay the court $10,000, you won’t get $10,000 back. The court will first subtract any court costs and fees and possibly even any fines that were imposed on you. In some areas, they may also take out any money owed to the state such as back taxes or back child support.
There’s also the possibility that if you have the money to post cash bail, you may not qualify for a public defender because the court may believe that you have the money to pay for your own lawyer. To qualify for a free public defender, you have to be proven to be indigent.
Cons of Bail Bond
It may be difficult to obtain a bond, especially if you’ve skipped bail in the past or have terrible credit. Just because you were given the option of bail, does not mean every bond agent will be willing to take a chance on you if you’re too big of a risk.
You do have to pay the 10% premium which is non-refundable and you will still have to pay any court fees on top of that.
If you have any questions about the bail bond process and how bail is paid, Mercy Bail Bonds is here to help and we’ll get you the answers you need. Our expert bondsmen may be able to get you out of jail in a few hours. Call us today at (727) 856-7775 anytime, 24/7.