There is nothing that can negatively affect someone’s life quite like going to prison. The entire process that leads up to incarceration is demoralizing to the ego. After being arrested by police, being led away in handcuffs, and then being sent to holding, a convicted person starts to appreciate what being free really means. Bail cannot be posted soon enough. Once bail has been posted, the offender is liberated, physically and mentally, up until the court date that pertains to the crime committed. Bail is posted one of two ways. It is either paid out-of-pocket by an individual or paid by a certified bail bonds service. They each have their advantages depending on the situation. Whichever is chosen, the choice of using a bail bondsman vs. paying cash bond is tough but necessary.
The cost of bail depends on the severity of the crime. A cash bond is payment made directly to a correctional facility. It can be paid for by a family member or a friend of the accused who is released minutes later. For convenience sake, the jail can accept credit cards, checks, and money orders. If the future defendant attends all of his or her court dates, the surety will eventually receive a refund of what was paid. Paying this way is expedient and gets fast results. However, it also requires all of the money at once. Paying the jail large amounts of money could necessitate taking out a loan or refinancing a house. For people in dire monetary straits or on fixed incomes, there is another alternative.
The bail bondsman is an intermediary who facilitates the release process. Using this method, the bondsman becomes the surety and posts bail to gain the freedom of the accused. In exchange for this service, the bondsman will charge about ten percent of the total bail. This charge is not refundable and can be very high if the crime is severe enough. Bail for murder almost always leads to a fee in the five-digit range. Luckily, bail bondsmen offer payment plans that can be paid for in person or online.
Choosing a bail bondsman vs. paying cash bond is tiresome for everyone involved since it is imposed by poor choices. If a defendant flees, the bondsman has to hire people for a search. If bail is too expensive, the family of a convicted person is worse off financially. It is, however, an important functioning aspect of the correctional system.