Being a bail bondsman or woman means that you will bail a person out of jail when they are being held for a certain amount of money. When this amount of money is set, in some cases it is very difficult for individuals to come up with these large sums.
Some people have to borrow the money from loved ones and some people are not able to do that or get the money from anyone. The bail bondsmen will front this money in order for the person to get out of jail until their hearing time.
They are then responsible for paying back the bondsman and showing up for the hearing. In some cases if the person does not show up for the hearing, it is called jumping bond and they are them being looked for by the police.
So, what does a bail bondsman do? As the name suggests, the person is responsible for signing the bond for the bail for the accused person. The accused has to appear before a judge and the bail amount is set then. The accused then gets in touch with a bail bondsman, who then arranges for bail. A bail bondsman is a licensed professional with a good reputation. Both these things allow him or her to secure the bail for the accused. Besides the bail, the bondsman may also give the accused some legal advice.
In order to become a bails bondman, you need a license. Without the license it is impossible to get into this career. The application form the license is available at the office of the Department of Insurance for your state of residence. The office has a few criteria that the bondsman must fulfill and only then the license is given. This license is known as Limited Surety Agent’s license. A person interested in becoming a bail bondsman has to attend classes at a certified school to know the ins and outs of the bail process and the legalities involved. After this you can apply for the license.
The salary of the bondsman comes from the accused. Usually the amount that the bail bondsman gets is 10 to 15 percent of the bail amount. On an average, a bail bondsman earns anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000 annually. However, this is not a job that any and everyone can do as it involves handling people accused of a crime and criminals.
Critical Considerations
The issue at a bail hearing isn’t the defendant’s guilt or innocence, but rather the likelihood that he or she will behave properly and return to court as necessary if released. Generally, the court may consider the apparent weight of the evidence against the accused. But this isn’t the primary consideration, and the judge isn’t normally supposed to make findings about the facts underlying the case.
Letting a Lawyer Handle It
If you have or someone you know has been arrested and is awaiting bail, consult an experienced criminal defense attorney. That lawyer will know the workings of the local bail system, both in and out of court.
And having a lawyer argue the issue of bail is a much better option than the defendant doing so. The lawyer can also arrange for the appropriate friends, family members, and associates to come to court. For example, a lawyer might arrange with a roommate to show up and attest that the suspect has a place to stay upon release.