Understanding the Process of 24 Hour Bail Bonds: What You Need to Know
Imagine being held in jail and charged for a crime you didn’t commit. The jail’s staff also do little to point you in the right direction regarding your release.
Incarceration, even for brief periods, can have substantial negative effects on your mental health. In most cases, you can bail yourself out of jail by paying a certain amount of money.
Many people choose to use bail bond services to help them do so. It’s possible to leverage 24-hour bail bonds to get out of jail as soon as possible, but not everyone understands how.
We’ve written a brief guide with the key information you should consider during the process. Let’s explore what you need to know.
Arrest/Booking
After you’re arrested, you’ll be taken to jail. This is true regardless of where you’re arrested or what time your arrest took place.
During the booking process, you’ll need to provide personal information. This includes your address, name, date of birth, and identifying marks.
The latter can consist of notable scars or tattoos. You will then be photographed and fingerprinted for documentation purposes.
Depending on certain factors, booking can take several hours to complete. The timeline is primarily influenced by how busy the jail is and how quickly the staff acts.
You will then either have to stay in custody until the following morning or will have a bond set for your release. In general, being accused of serious crimes often requires you to stay in jail until your first court hearing.
Contacting an Attorney
If you plan on fighting your case, it’s imperative to contact an attorney after you’re booked. They can help you better understand your charges and how to navigate them. They can also provide support during trying times.
As previously mentioned, it’s not uncommon for people to experience emotional distress after getting arrested. This is especially true if someone is wrongfully accused.
If you can’t afford an attorney, the court will appoint a public defender. You might not be able to contact them until your first court hearing, though. It’s always in your best interest to hire an attorney when possible.
Primary Court Hearing
Your primary court hearing will occur as soon as a judge is available to handle your case. This often occurs within 24 hours after arriving at the jail.
At the hearing, the judge will make decisions about certain situations. They can decide to release you as long as you promise to appear back in court.
This is called a recognizance release or signature release. Judges often grant this type of release for people without criminal history or for minor crimes.
They might also set a bond for the defendant. This is an amount of money you must pay to be granted release.
It’s also possible for the judge to keep you in jail without bond. There won’t be an opportunity for release until after your trial concludes.
This can lead to numerous complications, as it could be months or even years before you see the end of your trial. If you are sentenced to additional jail time, judges will often consider the time you already served. So, let’s assume you spend a year in jail while waiting for your trial to conclude.
The judge sentences you to 1.5 years in jail as punishment. Since you’ve already served a year, you’ll only serve six months if they consider the time you’ve already served.
Posting Bail
You can pay your bail in cash or through a bond. If you don’t have the cash to pay your bill, working with a bond agent can help you. You’ll pay an extra fee for their services since they’re essentially loaning you the money to pay your bond.
To obtain Raleigh bail bonds, you’ll need to contact a bond service provider. Let’s assume your bail is set at $50,000.
A bondsman might charge you $7,500 in exchange for the $50,000 to bail you out of jail. This fee is not refundable and is generally a percentage of the total bail amount.
Release from Jail
Release is often granted with certain conditions. For example, the accused individual could be ordered to refrain from interacting with firearms or dangerous weapons.
They can also be returned to jail if they engage in criminal activity. Another common condition of release is avoiding contact with witnesses or victims associated with the case.
The released individual must attend all of their court hearings or risk forfeiting their bail. Sometimes, people aren’t released from jail if they are deemed liable to not return to court. This is especially true if the court considers someone to be a flight risk.
If you use a bondsman to post bail and don’t return to court, the service provider will forfeit this money. This can lead to additional legal issues in the future.
Finding Bail Bond Services
When searching for bail bonds in Raleigh NC, it’s imperative to check their past reputation. This offers valuable insight into what type of experience you’ll get.
See what other people have to say about the bond service’s professionalism and timeliness. Never work with Raleigh bail agents who charge you more than the total bond amount.
Disreputable service providers often say they can get your charges dropped if you pay an extra fee. This is never true and is a red flag you should search elsewhere. Assess how comfortable you are communicating with them.
If something seems off, there’s no shame in exploring other options. With enough due diligence, you’ll find the best solution for your needs.
Don’t Neglect 24-Hour Bail Bonds
In many situations, 24-hour bail bonds can make your life substantially easier. You can get out of jail as soon as possible and start fighting your case. Just be sure to find a reputable bondsman.
Amistad Bail and Immigration Bonds prides itself on offering a fast and considerate bail bond service. With more than 75 years of collective experience, we’ve helped over 50,000 clients handle their legal issues. You can learn more about the benefits we provide by getting in touch with us today.