Being arrested and held by police is a stressful situation which is often further intensified by financial concerns. When an individual is unable to pay their bail in cash, ho or she may turn to a bail bonds Harrisburg PA service to help.
How Do I Find Out About Bail?
If a friend or family member is being detained, you will need to find out if bail has been set and at what amount. Judges may also choose to deny bail, though this is an uncommon event for all but the more serious crimes. Once a defendant is arrested, an initial bail hearing or arraignment will be held. This usually happens within 48-72 hours and is where the judge will set the bail amount. You can find out if a defendant has been arraigned and the bail amount by calling the jail yourself. You may also choose to work through a lawyer, who will communicate with the court on your behalf.
How Do I Pay the Court?
Once you know the bail amount, you have the option of paying the court in cash at their office. If you do not have enough money to pay the entire bail, some courts will accept certain kinds of tangible property such as land or a house instead.
What Happens if I Cannot Pay Bail?
If a defendant is unable to raise funds for bail, he will be held in jail until trial. The other option is to secure the services of a bail agent, also known as a bail bondsman. A bail bondsman will issue a surety bond to the court for a fee equal to a set percentage of the total bail. The bondsman retains his fee and will ask for collateral from the defendant to offset the rest of the amount. Some bail agents offer payment plans or additional financing options for a fee. If a friend or family member is being detained, you will need to find out if bail has been set and at what amount. Judges may also choose to deny bail, though this is an uncommon event for all but the more serious crimes.
Once a defendant is arrested, an initial bail hearing or arraignment will be held. The bondsman retains his fee and will ask for collateral from the defendant to offset the rest of the amount. Some bail agents offer payment plans or additional financing options for a fee. If a friend or family member is being detained, you will need to find out if bail has been set and at what amount. If a friend or family member is being detained, you will need to find out if bail has been set and at what amount. Judges may also choose to deny bail, though this is an uncommon event for all but the more serious crimes. Once a defendant is arrested, an initial bail hearing or arraignment will be held.
