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Failure to Appear: Consequences and Solutions After Posting Bail

Bail is often the best solution for defendants to get out of jail while awaiting their hearing. The court sets a bail amount as collateral, considering the severity of the alleged crime, the defendant’s criminal history, and their likelihood of fleeing or being a risk to public safety. If the accused cannot pay, they can ask a professional and trustworthy company for bail bonds in Lancaster County, PA, or other surrounding areas.

Posting bail is a temporary solution, and bondsmen expect clients to comply with the bail conditions, including attending all their hearings. If someone fails to appear in court, they face long-lasting consequences and get charged with a new criminal offense.

What to Expect

Failure to appear in court after posting bail in Lancaster County has legal consequences, no matter the severity of the crime. Whether a criminal or civil case, courts in Pennsylvania are allowed to immediately issue a bench warrant for failure to comply with release conditions. This warrant causes the bail company to lose the paid amount, which is why the defendant must have already signed an agreement stating they would be liable if they failed to appear. Additionally, the defendant may be required to pay extra fines, serve jail time, and have their vehicle registration and driver’s license suspended.

What to Do

There are legitimate reasons for missing a hearing, such as a medical emergency or transportation issues. If you skip your court date, seek professional help immediately to rectify the problem and minimize the potential impact on your personal life and criminal record. Call a lawyer to get a bench warrant lifted, negotiate a new deal with the court, and reschedule the hearing’s date.

The Importance of Communication with Your Bondsman

Being arrested can be a devastating experience for both the person being detained and their loved ones. In a situation like this, having someone on your side who can guide you through the bail bond process is essential. That someone is a bondsman. To make the most of a bondman’s service, it is vital to maintain communication with them. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of communication with your bondsman and how to bail someone out of jail in West Chester, PA.

Keeps You Informed – Many steps and procedures are involved when bailing someone out of jail. An experienced bondsman can help you navigate these processes and provide valuable guidance. Staying in touch with your bondsman can ensure you are always aware of your loved one’s release status and the bail proceedings. You must continuously have updated information to avoid missing any critical details.

Builds Trust – Building a relationship of trust with your bondsman is crucial. By communicating regularly, you can build rapport and create a sense of mutual understanding. When dealing with a problematic situation like an arrest, having someone you can depend on is comforting. By establishing trust with your bondsman, you can rest assured that they will do everything they can to help you.

Helps in Making Decisions – Sometimes, there may come a time when you have to make tough decisions related to the bail bond process. For example, you may have to decide whether to request a bail hearing or not. In such instances, the advice of a bondsman can be invaluable. By maintaining open lines of communication, you can ensure that you receive the support and guidance necessary to make the right decisions.

Shows Responsibility – Maintaining communication with your bondsman shows your responsibility and accountability. It is vital to stay available and answer any questions or queries the bondsman may have. This will help smooth the process and ensure your loved one is released from jail as soon as possible.

Helps Your Case – Lastly, staying in touch with your bondsman can help your court case. When you maintain a good relationship with your bondsman, they can provide valuable information to your lawyer that can be used to build a stronger case and secure a better outcome.

Ensuring Justice: The Vital Role of Bondsmen in the Legal System

One of the most significant ways bail bondsmen ensure justice is by providing a means for defendants to post bail. Bail is a monetary amount the court sets that a defendant must pay to be released from jail while awaiting trial. For many people, paying this amount upfront is impossible. This is where bail bond companies come in.

A defendant can be released from jail by paying a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%. After applying for bail bonds in Schuylkill County, PA, bondsmen then work with the defendant to ensure they attend all court dates and meet any other conditions set by the court. Failure to comply with these conditions can result in the forfeiture of the bail amount.

Another way bondsmen ensure justice is by providing valuable advice to defendants. Navigating the legal system can be incredibly confusing, especially for those who have never been through it before. In addition to helping defendants, bondsmen play a vital role in the justice system. Bondsmen help keep the legal system running smoothly by ensuring that defendants attend court.

Overcrowded jails are increasingly becoming a problem throughout the country, and bondsmen can help reduce this issue by ensuring defendants are released until their trial date. Bail bond companies believe in providing justice for all and will do what they can to help defendants and the court system.

How Bondsmen Help Keep Communities Safe

Did you know that a bondsman in Scranton, PA, doesn’t just provide bail bonds to their clients? Bail bond companies work hard to benefit their communities in many different ways. Here are just some of the different ways that bail bonds and bondsmen help the community.

Keep the Streets & City Safe – The bail bond system is designed to keep defendants who are genuinely sorry or innocent out of jail to continue to meet their obligations and prepare for their defense. It also provides an incentive to stay out of trouble by establishing the terms of their bail bond agreement and encouraging compliance with those terms.

They Are Proactive – A good bondsman will want their clients to appear in court and will do what it takes to help them make their hearings. This can include reminder phone calls and regular checkups to ensure the defendant is on track and prepared to attend their court date.

Provide Effective Services to the Community – By helping defendants post bail; these individuals can spend more time with their loved ones and keep their lives on track while preparing their defense with an attorney.

Choosing the Right Bail Bond Company

The stakes can be high when you or a loved one face criminal charges. That means one of the most important decisions you can make during this time is to choose the right bail bond company in Allentown, PA, to help you post bail and move forward with your case.

What makes this choice so important? Well, it can affect the outcome of your case and the overall security of your freedom. Here are some tips to use when trying to find the right company for when you need 24-hour bail bonds.

Do Your Research – Look up the services, fees, and customer satisfaction ratings of reputable bail bond companies in your area. This can give you a better understanding of the company’s reputation.

Ask Questions – Ask the bondsman about their fees, experience, and the process for posting bail. It is also good to ask about their policies and procedures for handling missed payments, missed court dates, or other common issues.

Check for Licensing – You always want to ensure that whichever company you work with is licensed and insured in the state where they operate. You can verify the company’s license and insurance using your state’s licensing board.

Get Referrals – If you know someone who has previously used a bail bond company, it is a good idea to ask about their experience. This could help you narrow down your search dramatically.

The Basics of Bail Bonds: How They Work and What You Need to Know

Before agreeing to a bond, knowing what you’re dealing with is essential. Here are the basics everyone should know about bail bonds in West Chester, PA.

First, you should understand how to bail someone out of jail and what bail means. “Bail” is essentially a monetary guarantee that if the person is released from prison, they will show up for their court hearing and obey the conditions of their release. If they meet all the requirements, the money is returned. If they do not follow the rules, the money is forfeited. However, since bail is typically set to a very high amount, most people cannot pay it by themselves. This is where bail bonds become relevant.

The Affordable Solution: Bonds

Working with a bail bondsman allows people to have their family members and friends released from jail without posting the entire bail amount. Instead, they will pay the bondsman a non-refundable 10% of the bail, and the bondsman will provide the rest of the money. As long as all the conditions of the release are met, the bondsman gets their money back, and nothing further is required.

However, if the jailed person fails to make their court appearance or doesn’t meet another condition of their release, whoever signed the bond agreement will have to pay the bondsman back for the money lost. That’s why you mustn’t agree to a bail bond unless you are confident that the person you release will follow through on their obligations.

How to Bail Someone Out of Jail

When you find out a family member or friend is in jail, don’t panic. Follow these instructions on how to bail someone out of jail in Scranton, PA, to bring them home as soon as possible.

Collect Their Details

First, make sure they are eligible for bail. Under Pennsylvania law, most people are qualified, but exceptions exist for severe charges or anyone considered a flight risk. Once you’ve confirmed their eligibility, collect these essential details:

Full Name of the Person Jailed
Date of Birth of the Person Jailed
Which Jail They are Held In
Their Booking or Report Number
The Charges They are Accused Of

If you are missing some information, that is all right; gather as much information as you can. Finally, find out their bail amount by contacting the jail or checking the online court records.

Contact a Bail Bond Agent

The next step is to secure an affordable bail bond. Research the bondsmen in your area to find a reputable provider, and then contact them with the details you collected.

Your bondsman will confirm the information and give you a written agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the bail bond. Typically, this entails a 10% fee of the total bail amount and agreeing to pay the full amount if the client does not meet their bail condition. Finally, your bondsman will post bail on your behalf so you can bring your family member or friend home. Contact us to learn more about how our affordable bail bonds work and what to expect from the process.

Getting Released on Your Own Recognizance

Individuals who have been arrested may sometimes be released on their own recognizance, which means they do not have to pay bail. They do have to sign a promise to appear in court as required and may be required to stay in the geographical location and to contact the court regularly to check in. Most cases of being released on one’s own recognizance (ROR) are traffic matters, minor, or technical crimes. In some cases, an ROR is known as “personal recognizance” or a “PR bond.”

States and counties differ in their rules on how to decide who is eligible to be released on their own recognizance. Despite these differences, the following categories or groups of defendants are often eligible to be released on their own recognizance:

Lower Grade Offenders
Most jail officials only want to keep repeat and violent criminals in jail, so lower level, non-violent offenders tend to get priority on personal recognizance bonds.

Indigent Offenders
If a court decides that a defendant cannot afford an attorney, they appoint an attorney on the defendant’s behalf. Also, if they find that the defendant cannot afford a bond, they may grant the defendant a personal recognizance bond so he or she can get out of jail.

Defendants with Serious Medical Conditions
Those with conditions that require weekly treatments may be granted a PR bond so that the county is not liable for the defendant’s medical treatment while in jail.

Defendants with Delayed Charges
If defendants have been held for a long time without a charge being formally filed, they may be released on their own recognizance. Some states cannot keep a defendant for more than 90 days without obtaining an indictment.

Rely on the experienced staff at Always Available Bail Bonds LLC, which serves clients with bail bonds in West Chester, PA, and throughout Eastern Pennsylvania. Call 1-800-BAIL-OUT any time of night or day.

Common Bail Bond Questions, Part 2

The questions below are a continuation of the blog about the most common bail bond questions:

What if the defendant skips out?
If a defendant skips his or her court dates, it’s up to the bail bondsman to find and bring the defendant back to court. Courts vary on the amount of time they allow the bondsman to take to find the defendant. If the defendant is not found in that designated timeframe, the person who has signed the bond is held accountable for paying the full amount of the bond plus additional expenses. You do not want to arrange bail for someone to get out of jail if you are doubtful he or she will appear in court as required.
Do you get your money back when you bail someone out of jail?
No. The bondsman’s fee is usually approximately 10% of the bail amount. That amount is what the bondsman is paid to get the arrested person out of jail. Collateral, however, is returned once the criminal case is finalized.
If the person is found guilty, do you get your money back?
With the exception of collateral, the money that is paid to the bondsman is not refunded. Bond agents make their living on the bail money they are paid.
Is your money returned if the charges are dropped?
No. The bail money that is paid to get the arrested person out of jail is only for that purpose and is not adjusted for the arrested person’s guilt, innocence, or court case factors.
Can a cosigner revoke a bail bond?
The only person that can revoke a bond is the bail bondsman. The bond agent has the authority to apprehend and surrender the defendant if he or she refuses to go to court. If the bondsman thinks the defendant may cause a forfeiture of the bail bond, he or she can locate and surrender the defendant.

Contact Always Available Bail Bonds LLC when you need bail bonds in West Chester, PA, any time of night or day. Take advantage of the 24/7 services we offer throughout Eastern Pennsylvania. Call 1-800-BAIL-OUT any time of night or day.

Common Bail Bond Questions, Part 1

If you or someone you love has been arrested and cannot afford to pay the full amount of bail, you need a bondsman in Scranton, PA, from Always Available Bail Bonds LLC. A bail bond is one kind of court surety bond that allows the arrested person to be released from jail by guaranteeing that he or she appears before the court on the designated date. If that person fails to show up in court, the bail bond company pays the full amount of the bond, and this sum is forfeited to the court.

For petty crimes, bail bonds vary and are based on the location of the arrest. Wait times for release also differ and depend on whether or not the defendant is being held at a local city jail in a police station or has been sent to the county jail.

The following are some of the most common questions (with answers) about how a bail bond works:

Is collateral required for a bail bond?
Collateral is not required for most bail bonds because bail collateral is taken in place of or in addition to bail money to secure the defendant’s release. Bail money is a type of loan to ensure that the person appears in court. Collateral can be a property, jewelry, vehicle, or any other valuable asset that is in a defendant’s or a cosigner’s name.
What happens if the bail bonds company is not paid?
You owe the amount of money you agreed to pay to the bail bond company or agent. If you do not pay, a bail bond company may sue you for the money owed in civil court. If the bail bond agreement you signed includes collateral, you may be secured by personal assets that have value. If you don’t keep your end of the bond agreement, the bail bond company takes ownership of the asset and acquires the value of it to counter the amount that you still owe them.