Nearly one quarter of all released defendants fail to appear back in court when they are supposed to. Those who use bail bonds companies to help post the bail show up in a much higher percentage. This is due to the bail bondsman keeping tabs on them and making sure that they show up. The bail bond company is on the hook for the whole bail amount if the defendant runs. Most bail bond companies require their customers to check in weekly and to stay within specific geographic boundaries while awaiting trial.
How Do Bail Bonds Work?
Bail bond companies have arrangement with insurance or credit companies that give them access to funds even outside of normal banking hours. This give them the ability to post the bail amount for the defendant day or night. The defendant typically has to pay 10-15% of the bail amount to the bail bond company which is how they make their money.
The system works great as long as those bailed out show up for their court dates. If they run bail companies hire bounty hunters to track down and bring back those who skipped out on their court date. This can be dangerous work.
There are 18 states where bail bond agents are not required to have special licenses. In the rest of the states agents are required to be licensed. Some states do not allow the use of "bounty hunters" and so the bail bond companies must track down their own runners.
Bail Bond Controversy
Some states argue that bail bond services are too costly for the poor and claim discrimination. Proponents say that the bail bond process protect wrongly accused defendants allowing them to get out of jail and work on the defense of their case.
One thing is for sure, if you find yourself in jail and a bail amount is required, if you don't have the money to post bail you need a professional bail bond company to help you. There are strict requirements put on the industry to insure the best possible result and benefits. Bail bond agents requirements insure that people are all treated as fairly as possible. http://rushbailbonds.net/birmingham-al/bail-bond-agent-requirements/
