Jails operate 24 hours a day, which means that sometimes there is a need for a 24 hour bail bondsman in Kingston NY. Anyone who has been arrested knows that getting out of jail as quickly as possible can be very important. Local jail facilities are often overcrowded and can even be dangerous. Also, being in jail can mean missing work or other obligations, leading to negative consequences even if a defendant is never convicted of a crime. However, not everyone has the cash to come up with the full amount of bail. That is where bail bondsmen can help.
Bail vs. Bond
While people use the terms bail and bond interchangeably, they actually refer to different things. Bail refers to the cash amount that a court determines a defendant needs to pay to be released while awaiting trial. Bail is fully refundable, assuming that the defendant appears at trial and complies with other conditions attached to the bail. A bond refers to the promise to pay the amount of bail if a defendant fails to appear at trial or comply with other terms of pre-trial release. In addition to cash bail, a court can place other conditions on a defendant’s pre-trial release, such as no contact with the alleged victim, no other criminal activity, or drug and alcohol monitoring.
What Does a Bail Bondsman Do?
A bail bondsman is a professional surety. A surety is a person who promises the court that a defendant will appear for trial and meet the other conditions of their bail. In many locations, only professionals may act as sureties. They do not have to post the cash bail but are responsible for paying it if a defendant fails to appear. In return for their promise to pay bail, bondsmen charge a non-refundable fee. This fee is usually a percentage of the total bond amount.
Finding a Bail Bondsman
Some people use bail bondsmen affiliated with their defense attorneys, but many people need to be released from jail before they ever meet with an attorney. Contact a 24 hour bail bondsman in Kingston NY.
