how does bail bond work in texas

Courts can also choose to release a defendant on personal recognizance. This form is encrypted and protected by attorney-client confidentiality. If the bail is paid, or posted, the defendant can be released from custody pending trial. Doing so entitles them to recover any cash or property put up for bond minus any premiums or fees they agreed to pay. 2023 How Bail Bonds Work | All Rights Reserved, Hidalgo County Bail Bond Association | HCBBA. Witnesses may disappear and cases can become stale. For example, if your bail is set to $10,000, you might be able to pay a bail bondsman $1,000 for them to post bail on your behalf. "contentUrl": "/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Texas-Bail-Bond-Hearing-Process-1-1.jpg", Make sure to visit your counties website to determine the exact fee structure, or simply talk to a nearby bondsman and openly ask them about the county regulations. The criminal must still appear in court after paying the bond money. This is the part of the state government that oversees bail bond agents and insurance companies. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bonds firm loses money, and the defendant is held liable. Your email address will not be published. A bond, on the other hand, is a promise made in money, and a bonds company hired by the defendant pays the amount.Therefore, the bail can either be a personal bond or a bail bond. How Bail Bonds Work in Texas The Easy Way. . [1] A surety can be a professional bail bond agent, or a friend or family member. There is cash bail, which is where the defendant gives the court a check or cash for the amount of their bail. If they do, the money they posted for bail will be returned. Federal criminal cases differ from State charges in that there is no system of bail or bail bonds in federal cases. HowBailBondsWork is an information and directory service. A cash bond means the court will accept only cash for the full amount of bail, not a bond that's secured by equity in property or other collateral. Police officer mistakes, faulty breathalyzers and crime lab errors may get your charges reduced or dismissed. check-ins with bondsman, drug/alcohol screening, etc.) In cases where the bail set is relatively low, this could be possible. Unlike other states, Texas has a unique way of handling bail bonds costs. It is important to note that innocence does not make it a defense against skipping bail. Rather than having one set fee percentage that is charged for each bail bond in the state, Texas allows each county to regulate its bail bond system in accordance to T.D.I Chapter 17.04 (Texas Occupations Code). The bail bonds professionals at Just Bail Bonds in DFW are here to get you out of jail as quickly as possible. You may also be asked to put up property as collateral. For various bonds companies, the defendant pays a premium fee of 10 percent of the total bail amount, then the bonds company covers the bail. If the defendant has the cash, then it is simple; they pay the total amount to the court and get a release with a pending trial. Contact our Houston DWI Lawyerstoday for more information about bail bonds in Texas. Property bonds are another type of bail that can be posted. CHAPTER 22. The United States is one of the few countries in the world that permit defendants to use a bail bondsman. The cons are that you dont get that 10% back. "acceptedAnswer": { . "name": "What Is a Bail Bond? However, when bail is set high, a bail bond is the better choice. Can I get Probation Instead of Jail in Harris County for Sexual Assault? If it is not posted, he or she will undoubtedly stay in custody for a trial. As long as the arrested person attends all court dates and meets any other requirements (e.g. The bail forfeited if the accused does not show up to court on the date. The court may revoke the bail bond and cause you to have to post a new higher bail bond to be released. Different courts may be more or less busy than others before you can get your bail hearing, of course. An award-winning criminal defense attorney. 3. Our practice is founded on the principle of combining the undivided attention of a small law firm with the full-service abilities of a large firm. When it comes to understanding how bail bonds work in Texas; co-signors should know that the bail bonds process, fees and oversight is typical in Texas as in most states.The bail bonds Texas authorities use to release those arrested from jail before their court date has been in place for many decades. It will have a list of possible restrictions and/or conditions that the court has required of the accused before being allowed to be released on bail. have no process for certifying bail bondsmen but, Texas does. The bail agency or bail bondsman may also impose specific requirements for a bail bond, such as requiring the bonded defendant to remain in-state, or the bail agency or bondsman takes the defendants posted collateral.

. When does a person get their bail money back if it is posted all in cash or as a 10% option . Similar to forfeiture remission, incarceration or hospitalization are valid reasons. There is usually a non-refundable fee of around 10% of the bail amount charged for this service. At the hearing, the defense can present evidence that supports reducing bail. When you find out how much the bail is, you can call on a bail bond agent to help you to make the bail and get out for a while until the next court date. If you are being priced out of your freedom, a motion to reduce bond in Texas may be your best option for getting a bond reduction. They can contact bail agents/bail bondsmen who will issue a bail bond. "@context": "https://schema.org", use our directory of Texas bail bonds agents today. Different courts may be more or less busy than others before you can get your bail hearing, of course. { They base it on an objective assessment of the defendants flight risk (i.e., how likely they are to flee). If you're looking for a bail bondsman in Dallas, Texas, look no further than PCS Bail Bonds. Police in 2015 arrested Jonathan Rawlins on an unauthorized use of a vehicle charge. The amount of bail depends on the offense being charged and the court hearing the case. . Bail bondsmen and bail agencies typically offer bail bonds at 10% of the total bail amount. It is always a good idea to look up the bondsmans information on the county bail bond board website. Often we can help you get charges reduced or dismissed, and avoid jail and a criminal record. When it comes to bail, the defendant can either get a cash bail or bond bail. Most of the time, it shouldnt be longer than 48 to 72 hours after your booking until your bail hearing. For example, the bail bond for a defendant with bail set at $10,000 would be $1,000. Then, the defendant could be released from jail until court. These are some factors that could influence the outcome of such a decision: Federal Bail BondIf someone is charged with a federal offense, or an interstate crime they must post a federal bail bond so that they can be released. If the defendant obtained a bail bond, the 10% premium cost paid is non-refundable. In Texas, the bail premium, or fee, is typically 10 to 20 percent of the full bail amount. While you have the option of leaving jail pending trial, the federal courts use . How Bail Bonds Work in Texas Houston Dallas Austin. Bail is a process by which a defendant being held for trial is released in exchange for an amount of money to be held as a guarantee of their appearance at all court hearings about the charges for which they were arrested. Defendants who post bail and then miss a court date forfeit their bail money. Has Realignment Led to Increased Violence in CA Prisons? The general bail bond fee charged is 10% but each county has the . The agent will typically charge 15-20% of the total bond amount, and the money or collateral you furnish is non-refundable. There is. If you post the bail bond, the court will release you under pending trial, and if not posted, you will remain in custody until after the trial. Arrestees who are given bail amounts have two options to make their bail. This service is not free. The amount of bail money is supposed to be significant enough to induce the person to show up to recover the bail money. After an arrest occurs in Texas, the person is usually processed at the local county jail. If they appear in court, they will get their money back. } If the defendant appears when he or she was ordered to, bail is refunded. } To be granted remission, the accused must provide valid reasons for the money to be returned. The usual way to do this is to post bail. You can also use a friend or family member to provide collateral and pay the fee of 10 to 15%. They will be held in jail until the hearing if they are unable to post bail or if they are denied bail. Contact the Department of Insurance or the state governmental . How do bail bonds work? Because of this, people charged with a crime should choose a bail company that is more likely to deliver better results. After all, they are taking on a big risk by providing the bond. Well examine the bail process in this article, including answering the question how does a bail bond work in Texas. The defendant is responsible for paying the company back. The bail agent forfeits the bond amount if the defendant fails to show up in court on the date scheduled. How much will you have to pay in the state of Texas? Defendants end up receiving a better deal than what they expected. "Bail" is the security given by the accused that he will appear and answer before the proper court the accusation brought against him, and includes a bail bond or a personal bond. For example, if the arrestee is considered to be a flight risk, the bail could be higher. There could be some differences in the cost of the bail based on the type of crime committed, as mentioned. Be sure you are signing your Texas bond with the company who youve been dealing with. Its a fee that the Texas bail bonds company will keep. They also do not serve to punish the defendant for any alleged crime. The Law Office of Matthew D. Sharp is a criminal law firm built around the basic goal of achieving the most positive results for our Texas clients. While typical, your case may vary from these numbers based on the specific circumstances. Since implementing these reforms in 2017, New . "@type": "Answer", Each court has its own bond schedule. The stronger the relationship, the more likely the bail bondsman will be inclined to accept the co-signer. This is a nonrefundable fee, even if the defendant shows up for trial as scheduled. Whether youre borrowing a bail bond for yourself or someone else, make sure you know what you are doing. Each county a bondsman wants to operate in they must be licensed through that counties Bail Bond Board. Cash bail will be returned minus only court and administrative fees. For starters, its going to depend partially on the criminal charge. Of course, most people do not have much knowledge about how bail bonds work. Forms of Bail. It releases someone that is in custody for an immigration violation. Bail bond surety - means a person who: (A) executes a bail bond as a surety or cosurety for another person; . If a friend or family member has been arrested, your first and primary concern is getting them out as quickly as possible. In 2017, a federal court found that the money bail system in Harris County was likely unconstitutional and ordered that misdemeanor defendants unable to pay bail be released on unsecured bonds (as opposed to money bonds).