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.