Being charged with a crime can be frightening and stressful; the prospect of staying in prison can be even worse. When you have been formally charged and are awaiting your court date, you may be held in jail and processed by the state, county, or federal authority. With your allotted phone call, you may decide to call a friend, family member, or criminal defense lawyer—like Patrick J. Martinez & Associates or Kevin P. Ondrey—to contact a bail bondsman and post your bail.

Posting Bail

To be released from the holding authority while awaiting trial, you must pay the court a certain amount in exchange for your temporary freedom. Bail is an assurance that you will return for your court date; it can range widely depending on your crime. In order to post bail, the process usually requires the following:

  • Contact a bail bondsman
  • Convince the bondsman that you are not a flight risk
    • If they decline, try another bondsman
  • Give the bondsman required information, such as your full name, crime that you were charged with, where you are being held, the amount of your bail and any other information they may ask for
  • A cosigner must agree to pay the bondsman’s premium and guarantee your attendance at every court date
  • Once all required paperwork is filled out and signed, the bondsman will post bail at the holding facility
  • The holding authority then signs the paperwork and releases you into the bondsman’s custody
  • Paperwork is then submitted to the surety company
  • If no bondsman will write the bond, your cosigner can either raise money for a cash bond or use property as collateral

The amount of bail needed to be released varies on a case-by-case basis, and you should know exactly what posting bail entails. If you have been charged with a crime, be sure to contact an attorney right away to make sure your rights and interests are protected.