Answer – What Is A Bail Bond
When police have charged you with some type of criminal offense, the court (judge) may decide that you must post bail before you can be released while you wait for your trial date. A bail bond is a contract (a guarantee) between you (maybe a co-signer) and the state-licensed bail agent that you’ll appear in court on the day of your trial.
According to the U.S. Constitution and the state of Texas, your bail amount must be deemed reasonable. However, there are four key factors a judge takes into considerations when determining if the bail should be granted and how much it should be. These factors are:
- Type of criminal offense
- Personal history
- Previous warrants (if there have been any)
- Possible flight risk
In the majority of cases, the bail agent may hold an interview to approve or decline a Texas bail bond. It’s unlikely a person will have the kind of cash needed to bond out of jail on their own, which is why an accused person can talk with a bail bond agent to get the money they need (at a fee) to get out of jail until trial.
For example, A Better Bail Bond charges 10 percent of the bail cost to put up the money for you to be released from jail.
When you sign the agreement, you promise to show up for your court date. Failing to appear for this date means the bail bondsman’s money is lost. This is called “skipping bail.” When this happens, he/she has the right to request bail enforcement agents, commonly known as bounty hunters, to find you and bring you to justice.
In recent months Bail in Texas has been in the news. Read here about Bail Bond VS Bail Reform.