After an arrest, it is easy to feel completely overwhelmed. Whether it was you who was arrested or your loved one, the emotions can be the same — hopelessness, despair, and total uncertainty. However, it doesn’t have to be a scary situation. Rather, with the right team on your side, posting bail and returning home can be simple and fast.
Here at Affordable Bail Bonding, we are proud to be a trusted bail bond company in Halifax. We care about our local community, and we strive to provide reliable and efficient bail bond services. If you or someone you loved was recently arrested, check out these common questions about posting bail, and find the answers you seek. As always, reach out at any point with further questions.
What Is Bail?
After an arrest, depending on the charges and the circumstances, a judge might set a bail amount. Bail is essentially a dollar amount that must be paid to secure someone’s freedom. The bail is paid to act as a sort of guarantee. The bail amount is paid, and the system holds on to this money. In order to get the bail money back, the defendant must show up to court. In this way, the court system uses bail to try to ensure that no one skips their court date. The amount of bail varies greatly and is determined by utilizing a few factors, such as the following:
- The severity of your charges
- Your perceived flight risk
- Your previous criminal record
In some cases, bail is set extremely low — perhaps only a few hundred dollars. In other cases, bail could be thousands of dollars.
What Is A Bail Bond?
As stated above, the amount that bail is set at varies greatly. For this reason, there are a lot of situations where affording bail is simply impossible. Many of us don’t have an extra $5,000 sitting around. When bail is set at an amount you can’t afford, a bail bond comes into play.
A bail bond is secured by paying a percentage of the bail amount — also referred to as a bail fee — to a bail bond company. Bail bonds make posting bail far more affordable. Once the bail fee is paid, the bail bond company pays the rest of the bail to the court. This allows the defendant to be let go without spending nearly as much money up front.
How Long Does It Take For Release?
Once bail has been posted, either by the defendant or by the bail bond company, the time of release is usually quick. However, there is no way to tell for certain the exact amount of time it will take to process bail, and let the defendant go. This will vary greatly based on the specific jail in which they are being held and how many other people are posting bail at the same time.
What Is The Benefit Of Posting Bail?
Aside from the obvious fact that no one enjoys sitting in jail, posting bail has an array of benefits. The following are all top reasons for posting bail:
- Prepare For Court: Getting out of jail gives you the chance to find an attorney and start preparing for your court date. This gives you the best chance of having a solid defense.
- Resume Responsibilities: Nothing is worse than missing out on a loved one’s birthday or not being able to afford rent because you were away from work for weeks on end. Posting bail lets you return to normal life and resume responsibilities while you wait for court.
- Less Stress: Sitting in jail is stressful and isn’t great for your mental well-being. Posting bail allows you to get back home and focus on how to make the most of your situation.
As you can see, posting bail doesn’t have to be complex. The justice system can seem overwhelming and scary when you face it alone, but with the right team on your side, it is no problem at all. If you need help posting bail, reach out to our trusted bail bond company in Halifax. We make posting bail fast, affordable, and easy. Contact us night or day for professional assistance. We look forward to helping you.