Important Bail Bond FAQS to Review Before Hiring a Lawyer

If you are ever faced with a legal situation that requires you to bail a loved one or yourself out of jail, it is important to have a basic understanding of what to expect. Bailing a friend or loved one out of jail can be frustrating and stressful if you are not prepared, and can even come with some stiff penalties if you fail to uphold your end of the bargain. So, if you have to bail a loved one out of jail, or surrender to an arrest warrant, it is helpful to first read through some common questions and answers about the bail bond industry. Then you can make a call to a criminal defense lawyer to set up a plan after you or your loved one is released.

Continue reading to review the most frequently asked questions about bail bonds.

Bail Bonds Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana
Bail Bonds Lawyer 317-636-7514 Indianapolis Indiana

How Much Does a Bail Bond Cost in Indiana?

This is one of the first questions a person asks when they need bail services. This fact is not surprising, considering it is a huge influence on whether or not bail is an option for someone. Currently in the state of Indiana, bail bond agencies are allowed to charge 10 to 15 percent of the total bond amount assigned by the court to the defendant. If a person were arrested on a minor drug possession charge, their bond could be set at around 5,000 dollars. This is just an example and not accurate. Bond amounts are calculated by examining a person’s criminal history, flight risk, and other variables. It is different for everyone.

Theoretically, if a person’s bond were five thousand dollars, a bail agent charging ten percent would require a fee of 500 dollars.  This ten or fifteen percent fee is non-refundable, but it allows a person to get out of jail before their scheduled court hearing without having to pay the entire $5,000 fine. If they fail to appear for court, they forfeit the rest of the bond amount and a warrant is issued for their arrest.  At that point, they are a repeat offender and may have trouble gaining bail for a second time. This leads into the next question.

Can a Bail Bond Company Refuse Service to Someone?

The answer to this dual question is yes, both ways.  Bail bond agents are a separate business, and can refuse their services to anyone, just as any other privately owned business can. The reason a bail bond company may refuse service to a person is mostly based on their likelihood to flee and not appear for their scheduled court hearings. On top of that, they take into consideration past criminal records and charges, just as the court does when they set a bond amount. If a person seems like a risky client, they will refuse service in order to protect themselves. 

Are Bail Bondsmen Bounty Hunters?

No, bail bond agents are not bounty hunters; especially the ones depicted on television. Bail bond agents are a legal service company that provides helpful assistance to people in need of bail. Bounty hunters are persons who work on their own volition to seek out fugitives and hand them over to the police. In some cases, a bail bondsman can hire a bounty hunter if one of their clients skips out on a court date. 

Do I Need a Lawyer to Obtain a Bail Bond?

A lawyer has the role of defending your criminal charges. Their job is to build an impactful defense on your behalf so you can avoid the maximum penalties for your suspected crimes. Although they can arrange bail for you, but they will not be your surety. What they can do in terms of bail is coordinate with your friends and family to arrange a bail bond agreement and act as your surety to get you out of jail. For this reason, you do not need a lawyer to post your bail, or even surrender to an arrest warrant. However, if you are turning yourself in for a warrant, it helps to have your lawyer on board, prior to doing so. They can help expedite the process, and even make the arrangements on your behalf.

Where to Get Trusted Legal Advice Regarding Your Recent Arrest and Criminal Charges in Indiana

Call 317-636-7514 to schedule a consultation with aggressive Indianapolis criminal defense attorney, David E. Lewis regarding your arrest and criminal charges. He will stop at nothing to protect your rights and preserve your freedoms after being charged with a crime in Central Indiana. With decades of hands-on experience, you can trust Attorney David E. Lewis to build you a strong and impactful defense against your criminal charges.

Indianapolis Criminal Defense 317-636-7514
Schedule a Free Consultation Today!

Typical Questions About Bail Bonds

Indianapolis Criminal Defense 317-636-7514

Indianapolis Criminal Defense 317-636-7514

The world of bail bonds can be a complicated and even tedious place to be. Posting bail and paying for bonds is an everyday occurrence. It is important to understand some key points about bail in order to comprehend an instance in which you need to bail a loved one from jail. Continue reading to review some common questions defendants and families of defendants have about bail bonds and jail.

What Does it Mean to “Be Processed” in Jail?

People will often have this question due to the fact that a person cannot be released from jail until they are completely processed. Processing takes place after a person is arrested and driven to the jail. In the jail they are taken to the processing center. Here, a collection of personal identification elements are entered in to the jails computer’s system, such as finger prints, photos, residential information, employment, medical history, contact information, and more.

The jail also has each inmate see a nurse for a brief medical checkup. This is to check for viral and bacterial infections and illnesses so that they are not spread to the rest of the population. It is also used to check for suicidal thoughts, anger evaluations, and more. A background check is run on the individual, as well as a warrant check. This entire “process” is also referred to as “booking” an inmate. Once the individual is processed, they are eligible to be bailed from jail, so long as they weren’t arrested under the influence. In the case that they were arrested under the influence, they would have to wait at least 8 hours (or until sober) to be eligible for release.

The amount of time it takes to process an inmate and then have them released from jail is different every day, person to person. It all depends on numerous variables, such as past violations and convictions, the arresting charges, liability, the amount of traffic through the jail, and much more. The size of the jail is another factor that contributes to inconsistent processing times. The size of the jail determines the amount of staff they have available to do the processing as well, so the smaller the jail, the smaller the staff, and the slower the processing times.

How Much Does it Cost to Get Bailed from Jail?

Criminal Defense Attorney 317-636-7514

Criminal Defense Attorney 317-636-7514

The total amount of the bond, handed down by the courts, initially decides how much it will cost to post bail. Once this amount is configured, the next determining factor is the type of bond used to obtain a release from jail. This is a lengthy topic, in which case, we’ll only discus the most common way to obtain a quick release from jail, which is a bail bond. This is the most common form of posting bail because many people do not have enough money to cover the entire bond amount, which can reach thousands of dollars.

Posting bail with a bail bond requires the services of a bail bondsman. By state laws, bail bondsman fees are regulated to be between 10-15% of the total bond amount. So if a persons’ bond amount was $5,000, the bail bond fee would cost $500-$750. This is a non-refundable fee, and is a contract that requires signature and contractual agreement.

Will a Bail Bondsman Refuse Someone Their Services?

A bail bondsman has the right to refuse their services to anyone they may choose, just as any small business owner could. The real question is, “WHY would a bail bond company refuse someone their services?” The answer is simple. A bail bond agency basically “fronts” the cash for the bond to obtain a release from jail. Although a person is only paying 10-15% of the bond amount, the bail bond company pays the rest.

They get this money back when the arrested person shows up for their court date. This is where the contractual agreement comes into play. If they skip their court date, they are considered a fugitive of the law, and the person who signed the bond agreement to bail them out of jail is held responsible for their absence. If a bail bondsman feels the inmate that requires bail is a flight risk, meaning they are likely to skip their court dates, they will refuse to take on the case. They will not want to risk their money on a repeat violator either.

Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorney

David E. Lewis Attorney at Law

David E. Lewis Attorney at Law 317-636-7514

Call David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law, at 317-636-7514 if you or a loved one has been arrested in Indianapolis and is facing criminal charges. We are an aggressive, hard-working criminal defense law firm that stops at nothing to get clients released from jail as fast as possible, and build a defense that will protect them from receiving the maximum penalties for their charges. Call 317-636-7514 to schedule a free initial consultation with an Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer you can trust.