River City Bail Bonds in San Antonio/Fort Worth, Texas provides a service for those in need who typically have no idea how the bond process works. River City Bail Bonds knows the process inside and out and is ready to use its expertise and knowledge to offer you, or a loved one assistance in walking through the bail bond process.
What Does Making Bail Mean?
If a person faces arrest for committing a felony, it is possible that the individual use his or her, or a family member’s, or friend’s money or property in exchange for temporary release from jail. A felony is a crime that is violent, more serious than a misdemeanor, and punishable by imprisonment for over a year, and sometimes in individual states, is punishable by death. Depending on the accused’s charges, the bail price can range from several hundred dollars to several million.
The original implementation of bail bonds was to guarantee that the person out on bail would not disappear before his or her upcoming court date (much like an insurance policy).
The Bail Bond Process
The Bail Bond Hearing – When the accused is arrested for a serious crime, he or she goes to jail to await the bail bond hearing. The appointed judge is the person who sets the amount of the bail. But, if the individual hires a bail bond agent, the accused can pay a fixed amount of money and obtain release from police custody. This action requires that the accused agrees to appear in court for all scheduled times appointed by the judge.
Hiring a Bail Bond Agent – The bail representative will ask you for all the information needed to obtain your bail. The questions include:
- Your name
- The name of the jail
- Your booking number
- Your charges, and more
A River City Bail Bonds agent will meet with you 24/7, regardless of the time of day. When you call, an agent answers and the agent will meet with you at his or her office, in jail or can even handle payments electronically or with a phone call.
Posting Bail – The defendant can post bail in a variety of ways, including:
- Paying the entire amount of the bail by cash or check
- Offering a bond (a promise to pay if he or she does not appear in court) for the full amount
- Signing over rights to owned-properties (collateral) that are of the same cash value as the bail amount
- Being released on his or her own recognizance (a signed statement promising to appear at the required time).
How do Bail Bonds Agents Get Paid?
In Texas, bail bond agents usually charge their clients ten to 15 percent of the total bail amount, depending on the location of the arrest and the circumstances of the crime. If the defendant fails to show up in court at the requested times or if he or she violates the bail conditions, the bail agent is required to pay the full amount of the bond set by the judge. Also, the agent will find the defendant and take him or her back to jail. Any collateral that was signed over to the court to cover the bond could be forfeited.
Once the trial is over, and no matter the findings for the defendant, the bail bond is exonerated.
River City Bail Bonds – San Antonio/Fort Worth
Whether you are in San Antonio, Fort Worth, Bexar County, or Tarrant County, River City Bail Bonds can assist you and walk beside you throughout the bail bond process. After years of experience in this field, we know that confidentiality, professionalism, and cooperation are the most essential parts of our job. Contact us now and let us discuss with you more about the ways we can help.
