What Are Some Important Criminal Justice Terms to Know?

handcuffs  and finger prints

How does a bond work jail?

When you’re arrested for a crime, you will appear before a judge will set bail, the amount required for you to be released from custody. You can pay that bail amount as a whole to the court, or a bail bond can be obtained from a bail bondsman. Posting bail is usually done by a family member, friend, employer, or an attorney, which will cost up to 20% of the bail amount, however, all bail bonds terms are different. 

When you hire a bail bondsmen, a contract is signed by the person that buys the bond that ensures the defendant will be court on the appointed date and time and will fulfill any special requirements outlined in the Bail bonds terms by the judge. If the defendant does not make the assigned court date, the person who purchased the bond will be responsible for paying the bail bondsman in full. 

A bail bondsman is typically available 24/7/365, even if it is by cell phone because being arrested can happen any day of the week, any time of the day. Today, thanks to computers and technology, the required paperwork and payment are done electronically. It is the contract that the bail bondsman will request be signed where the bail bonds terms as stated. 

The contract will state the collateral that was put up for the bail and details the ramifications if the defendant doesn’t show up on their appointed court date. It will have the defendant’s full name, address, contacts of the defendant’s, the court date, and a receipt for the bail bond. 

If the defendant doesn’t show up to any assigned court proceedings, the bail bondsman has the responsibility to find that person and bring them to court. If they are unable to locate the defendant, as stated in their bail bond terms, they will hire a bounty hunter or private eye to find the defendant. The amount of paid for the bail bond is forfeited. 

What are the different types of bonds to get out of jail?

Several types of bonds can get you released from jail, some easier than others. Not all types work for all types of arrest and custody, and the bail bonds terms can vary based on the charges and the defendant’s criminal history.  

What are the 7 types of bail?

Here is the list of the seven types of bail bonds that can get a defendant released from custody. A brief explanation of Different bail bonds terms is for what kind of arrest is stated along with this list. 

  • Citation Bail: The arresting officer’s discretion is what determines if they will issue a citation release at the time of arrest or ticketing.  
  • Recognizance Bail: Recognizance bail is issued by the arresting officer’s discretion, too, but isn’t given as freely as the citation bail, and you may need to go to court to be granted this bail. 
  • Cash Bail: Cash bail is a bail that is paid in cash if the defendant of the person bailing them has the money. 
  • Surety Bail: If cash is not available, this is when the services of a bail bondsman are used. Typically, this can cost between 10% to 20% of the amount of bail and a contract stating the bail bonds terms will need to be signed by the person hiring the bail bondsman and the defendant. 
  • Property Bail: This type of bail can take some time because the property being offered as bail has to be assessed and approved by the courts. 
  • Federal Bail: A federal bail bond is similar to property bonds in that you must deal with the court, and there is no bail bondsman involved. It often contains cash and property for most people. 
  • Immigration Bail: This type of bail can be challenging to obtain because the defendant is non-citizens or non-residents and can’t meet the eligibility stated within the bail bonds terms. 

What is the most common type of bail?

Cash bond or surety bonds are the most common type of the seven types with recognizance bail being the third most common. The exact requirements are detailed within the bail bonds terms that are presented at the time the bondman issues the bail bond. 

Judge's gavel

What does bond bail supp mean?

There are many different bail bonds terminology and words, all having different bail bonds and law terms.  Bail bond supp is abbreviated for bail bond support, meaning the collateral needed to guarantee the bond that the defendant will appear in court on the date stated at their arraignment. More common terminology in the bail bond industry are: 

  • Arraignment – the first court hearing where the defendant hears the terms of bail and their first court date. 
  • Arrest – when a person is charged by law enforcement because they are a suspect in a crime. 
  • Bail Bond – a guarantee to the court that the defendant will appear before the judge on the set court date. 
  • Bail Bondsman – an authorized person that has authority to post bail for a defendant with an agreement between them and the defendant separate from the court’s bail bonds terms.
  • Bail Forfeiture – this when the defendant has failed to appear in court, and they forfeit their bail money. The bail bondsman becomes responsible to the court for the money and pursues the defendant for reimbursement.
  • Collateral – usually required for a larger and riskier bond and is requested by the bail bond company as a part of their bail bonds terms and conditions.
  • Conditions of Release – these are the bail bonds terms of the conditions the judge stated at the arraignment that indicates the limits of what is allowed and not allowed for the defendant while awaiting trial.
  • Criminal Defense Lawyer – this is the defendant’s lawyer that is to protect their innocence, making sure they get a fair trial. 
  • Defendant – this is the person that is accused and was arrested.
  • Extradition – when a defendant leaves the state or country after an arrest, they are returned to the original state or country. 
  • Failure to Appear – this is when the defendant doesn’t make their appointed court date, and a warrant is issued for their arrest.
  • Felony – this is a crime with a level of two or more years of jail time.
  • Fugitive – a defendant that failed to appear in court.
  • Incarceration – an arrested person being held in jail is incarcerated.
  • Indemnitor – this is the person that paid for the bail bond and is now responsible for the defendant showing up for court.
  • Transfer Bond – this is a bail bond that secures a defendant is transferred from one jurisdiction to another. 
  • Warrant – issued by the judge for a person accused of a crime to be found and brought to jail. 

This is a lot of information and not the most accurate version. To know How to find bond information, we recommend searching the internet for a defense attorney that specializes in the crime the defendant is accused of and get the proper legal guidance. For affordable bail in Halifax, VA, Danville, VA, and Chatham, VA, call 434-237-2245 today.