When it comes to Criminal Charge Bail money, there are two that are assumed to be the only ones available. The surety bond which is obtained through a bail bondsman and the cash bond which is self-pay, But did you know there are actually a few other kinds? Here is a look at the various kinds of bonds out there.
Surety bond
As said, a surety bond is a bond that you get from a bail bondsman. In order to obtain this type of bond, a person pays the bail bondsman 10% of the bail cost and then the bail bondsman acts as an insurer to the courts taking responsibility for the client and making sure they arrive at their court date as scheduled.
Cash Bond
A Cash bond is basically just how it sounds. This is a bond where you pay in full to bail yourself out. Of course, after the trial concludes you will have that money returned minus any court fees but it tends to be more than most people can afford.
Citation Release
A citation release is almost more of a promise than a bail bond simply because you are actually never arrested or taken into custody in the first place. For low priority offenses such as traffic violations, the police officer will write a citation that will give you a time to go to court but beyond that, you are free to go on your way without the money needed until after the hearing.
Personal Recognizance
Like a citation release, a personal recognizance bond is more a promise than an actual bail bond however this is a promise made after actually being held. A personal recognizance bond is a promise directly to the court stating that you will show up to your hearing as agreed upon. Once again, this only tends to be an option for less severe crimes.
Immigration
Immigration bonds are bonds only used in cases dealing with illegal immigrants. These come with a strict set of rules and are harder to obtain but possible if met in the right circumstances.
In conclusion, while surety and cash bond may be the most well known of the bail bonds, there are actually quite a few (and in some instances more desirable) options out there.
It’s amazing how a bail bond could help someone get out of jail quickly by paying for their outstanding bail amount. My friend once talked about a crime-themed movie that used this technique to get someone out of jail. Now that I know how this works, I’ll probably consider using it if I get into any sticky situations.