All About Bail Bonds

When an individual is arrested for a crime, they are typically taken to the local police station for booking.  In some cases, they may be transported to the local county jail.  Once processed, most defendants have the right to bail pending their court trial.

There are four ways a defendant can be released from jail:

• Cash Bail - a person can post the full bail amount in cash with the court
• Surety Bond - a Bail Bondsman can post a bond with the court / jail
• Property Bond - a person can "put-up" their property in the form of a lien 
• Own Recognizance (OR) - a Deputy or Jail Staff can recommend the release of an individual on their own recognizance

A bail bond (surety bond)  is a monetary guarantee with the court in which the defendant is temporarily placed in the custody of the posting Bail Agency. Bail Agencies such as 247GetBail and Better Bail Bonds, promise the court that the defendant will appear each and every time they are ordered to do so until the conclusion of their court case.

To secure a Bail Bond for your loved one, friend or family member, they will need to have a "Co-Signer." A Co-Signer or Indemnitor is responsible for defendant appearing in court each time they are ordered to do so.  They are also responsible for payment of any court costs, surrender costs and full bail amount for non-appearance should the defendant fail to appear and the court forfeits the bond.

Bail amounts are based on a Bail Schedule which is a list of offenses and dollar amounts set by a judge. Bail is regulated by The State of Arizona Department of Insurance.  ALL Bail Bond companies must charge the same rate.  The standard charge or “Premium” for bail is 10% of the total bond amount.  Example: If the bond amount is $10,000, the premium will be $1,000.  This is the amount the person posting the bond must pay. Collateral may be required for larger bond amounts.

If a person does not appear for their court date, the court will issue a warrant for the defendant's arrest and notify the bail bond agency of their failure to appear. If this happens, the bail bond agency can either assist with reinstating the bail with the court or with the surrender of the defendant back to custody.

Call us at 24/7 Get Bail or at Better Bail Bonds for additional information on bail bonding and how can we help you in your time of need.