When it comes to posting bail, there are a lot of technical terms that can leave you confused. Not only that, but in some cases, terms are also used interchangeably that don’t actually mean the same thing.
For example, many people mistakenly confuse bounty hunters and bail bondsmen as one and the same. While there is overlap in their work — and in some states, you can operate as both — they are not the same.
As a team that provides affordable bail bonds in Lynchburg, we are here to help you understand the process of posting bail and the associated lingo. If you are wondering what the difference is between a bail bondsman and a bounty hunter, read on below.
The Role Of A Bounty Hunter
Popularized by Hollywood dramas, bounty hunters are often confused with bail bondsmen by the masses. However, bounty hunters play a very specific role, and in most cases, you will never need to interact with a bounty hunter if you have been arrested.
A bounty hunter, simply put, is someone who is in charge of locating and detaining fugitives. They are hired by a bail bondsmen when someone who has signed a contract with a bail bond company breaks that contract by skipping out on their court date.
Because skipping a court date results in a new warrant being issued for the arrest of the defendant, a bounty hunter is legally allowed to detain the person who is fleeing justice. Bounty hunters will focus on first locating the person who fled. Once they find the person, they will detain them and bring them back to the justice system.
The Role Of A Bail Bondsman
A bail bondsman is entirely different than a bounty hunter. A bail bondsman simply assists someone who has been arrested in posting bail. They act as a liaison and make it affordable for the person who was arrested to post bail.
A bail bondsman is on your side. They will work with you to ensure that you can meet your bail requirements. You will provide them with information, as well as pay them a bail fee, in order to secure a bail bond. They will then pay the total bail amount owed, allowing for your release from jail.
When you enlist the help of a bail bondsman, you are entering into a contract with them. You are promising that if the bail bond company pays your total bail amount owed, you will show up to court so they can get their money back. Due to the fact that they can only get their money back if you show up to court, the bail bondsman obviously has a vested interest in your arrival to your court date.
Work With Our Trusted Bail Bondsmen
As you can see, a bail bondsman and a bounty hunter are not the same thing. In some states, you are allowed to operate as both, but in no way are the terms synonymous. If you are looking for help posting bail, then a bail bondsman is who you want to call. The good news is that if you uphold your end of the deal when posting bail with the help of a bondsman, you will never have to worry about the role a bounty hunter plays.
Here at Affordable Bail Bonding, we are committed to helping those in our community who need to post bail. We make it easy and affordable for anyone to access their freedom. How does posting bail with our teamwork?
- You reach out to a bail bondsman
- We ask you some questions about the arrest, where you are being held, and some personal info, such as date of birth and full name
- We let you know how much your bail premium will be — usually 10% of your bail owed
- You pay us and sign a contract with our team
- We post your bail
- The jail releases you
- You return home to wait for your court date
It really is simple when you have the help of a bail bondsman on your side. If you have been looking for affordable bail bonds in Lynchburg, we are here to help. Contact us for assistance. We are always on call, so there is no bad time of day or night to give us a ring.