Posted: 10/17/2007 6:05:07 AM EDT
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Never been arrested and don't ever plan to be.. At any rate, say i'm arrested on some charge and the judge issues a $10,000 bail on me. So I have someone either come up with 10k or find a bail bondsman and they come get me out. Do I ever see that money again? Regardless of whether i'm found guilty or innocent is the money to be returned to me/bondsman as long as I show up for the trial? |
Meh. I thought you were joining in with the "Legalize drugs and outlaw cops!" crowd. Maybe I'm just being pissy today. I'm gonna go shoot something. |
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Typically a bail bondsman charges 10% of the bond amount up front plus interest on the whole amount for the time you are out on bail. If your bail is $10K, someone has to come up with $1K in cash plus be able to show ability to pay the rest in case you skip. (Major credit card, home equity, whatever.) If you show up for trial, the bondsman gets the full amount back whether you end up free or incarcerated. You or your family or whoever get billed for interest. Their $1K is gone forever. If you skip, the bail bondsman will go after whoever put up the $1K for the rest. He may also send a bounty hunter out to look for you. |
usually the bond is secured by a residence. If you are convicted or plead guilty there may be "poundage" charged on the bail where the court keeps a small percentage. If you are found not guilty all the money is returned |
| If you go through a bail bondsman they will charge you a fee, usually ten percent, to post the bond for you, which you will never see again. If you have the full amount and post it, it will be held as surety that you will appear for trial/arraingment/whatever. If you show up, and the case is dismissed, nolle pros, or you are found not guilty, then tou get the money back. If you are found guilty, some or all of the bond amount may be forfeited to pay all or part of any fines which may be levied against you as part of the conviction. |
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It depends on the jurisdiction. In Illinois: The primary purpose of setting bond is to secure the appearance of the Defendant for court. If a judge issues a bond amount of $5,000.00 the Defendant must post 10% in order to be released on bond. A judge may also attach various conditions to said bond. If you make all your court appearances, you are entitled to have most of your bond back (or have it applied to pay outstanding fines, assessments and costs). If you miss a court appearance, the judge will enter a preliminary bond forfeiture and issue a new warrant, usually in an amount greater than the initial bond....frequently it is double. Ultimately, failure to appear will result in forfeiture of posted bond. |