If you've been arrested for an alleged crime, you can bail yourself out of jail while you await trial. To do so, you must pay the court whatever amount the judge has set. How much you're required to pay depends on your specific situation.
To determine the bail amount, the judge will look at various factors, including:
- The severity of the alleged offense,
- Your criminal history (if you have one),
- Your community ties,
- Your employment status,
- Your risk of leaving before your trial, and
- Any dangers you may pose to others while released
Your bail might be hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars. Either way, you must have enough on hand to pay the court. If you don't, you wouldn't be able to get out of jail.
So what happens if you don't have enough to satisfy your bail amount?
Contacting a Bail Bond Agent
Let's say you don't have enough money on hand to pay the court. You can still seek to get yourself out of jail. You would do so by reaching out to a bail bond company.
Bail bond agents work to help people secure release from jail when bail amounts are beyond their financial reach. If you take this option, you would pay a non-refundable 10% premium for the company's services. This means that a $5,000 bail, for instance, would cost $500, plus other related charges.
You would also sign an agreement with the company stating that you will satisfy the remaining 90% if you fail to appear in court for your case.
After you pay the premium, the company gets to work on your behalf. Its agents will take care of the necessary paperwork and contact the court for you. Within a few hours, you will be released from custody (the timeframe depends on the processing time of the facility you're in).
How Is Posting Bond Different from Paying Cash Bail?
Overall, posting bond is similar to paying cash bail on your own. You'll be released from jail while your trial is pending. You'll also have to abide by certain conditions during that time. Additionally, you'll be required to show up to all scheduled court appearances.
One of the differences between paying cash bail and having a bond posted on your behalf is that, with a bail bond, you're only required to pay a portion of the entire amount. Another difference is that, with posting bond, you'll have a skilled agent working with you throughout the process. They're ready to answer your questions and address your concerns.
At Andy Callif Bail Bonds, we are here to help you seek release from jail in Columbus. Speak with us during a free consultation by contacting us at (614) 945-4334.