Bail bonds are a Constitutional right for everyone in the United States. While the basic concept of the bail bond is the same across the board, the courts may include stipulations that must be agreed to before a bond will be accepted. A bond works by offering some sort of security to the court that will guarantee that the defendant will fulfill his obligations and attend all of their court hearings that are scheduled for their case. If you have any questions concerning the different types of bonds that are available and can be used, call the agents at Mesquite Bail Bonds today at 702-342-1019. They will be able to answer all of your questions and write the correct bond for your particular situation. The following is list explains each type of bond and how it's used.
Cash Bonds
Cash bonds are the easiest of all the bonds. You do not need a bail bonds agent and you can take care of everything yourself. Once the bond amount has been set, you can pay a cash bond by presenting the full amount of the bond in cash at the jail or court. You must pay the bond in person. It can't be completed over the phone or through a wire transfer. Cash bonds are often used for minor cases where the bail is less than $1000. A cash bond works just like a surety or other type of bond, except that it is a cash transaction between you and the court with no middleman or additional fees having to be paid. Once the case is over, the remainder of the bond amount will be released to you after court fees, costs, and any restitution have been paid.
Surety Bonds
A surety bond requires the services of a bail bonds agent. Surety bonds are normally used when the bond amount is large enough to cause difficulty when trying to obtain the funds. Once bail has been set, a bond application must be completed and secured. A state-mandated fee of 10% of the total bond amount must be paid to secure the note and complete the process so the bail bond agent can post the bond. The fee required to pay the bond is a requirement of the state. It cannot be returned and it is not negotiable. Once the case has been closed, the bond will be released and the co-signer will no longer be obligated in any way.
ROR or Own Recognizance Bonds
An ROR or “own recognizance” bond doesn't require any money or the use of a bail bond agent. An ROR bond is often recommended for individuals who have strong connections to the community and are not considered to be a potential flight risk. Much like a traffic ticket, the defendant signs a bond agreement that states they will comply with all of the court's requirements and will appear at all court hearings that have been scheduled for their case. The terms of an ROR bail bond are exactly the same as for any other type of bail bond, except no cash changes hands or is needed to secure the bond. If the defendant, for any reason, fails to appear or fulfill their obligations to the court, an arrest warrant will be issued and a more conventional bond will have to be used to obtain their release.
Active Arrest Warrants
An active arrest warrant bond is used before you or a loved has been arrested. With an active arrest warrant, the defendant will not have to spend any time in jail. Once a defendant knows what they are being charged with, they can complete the bail bonds application and secure the bond. They will then go to the jail with the bondsman and turn themselves in. Once the booking process has been completed, their bond can be posted and the release process begins. The defendant will be released as soon as all of the formalities have been taken care of. The defendant will be obligated by the bond agreement just like they would have if an actual arrest had occurred.
Felony Charges Bail Bonds
Bail bonds that are written for defendants may have more stipulations than a bail bond written for a lesser crime. The defendant may be required to turn over their passport or use physical property as collateral. This is often the case when a bail amount is over $100,000 or more. While every defendant is entitled to the right to post a bond, it is also considered a privilege and a bond can be revoked if the judge or co-signer determine that the defendant is no longer a good risk. A felony charge is much more serious than a misdemeanor and normally requires an exorbitant bail amount. Even when paying a 10% premium, the cost can be overwhelming making it hard for some people to come up with the money for the premium.
Weapons Bail Bonds
If a person has been charged with a crime that involved a firearm of any kind or any other type of weapon, the judge may demand they have a weapons bond written before they can be released. While the basic bail bonds process is used, this type of charge often demands that the defendant turn over any weapons they may own to law enforcement until after the completion of the case. If the charges turn out to be felonies, the defendant may not get their firearms back at all. Convicted felons are not allowed to be in possession of a firearm, even after their case has been finalized. If the defendant is found to be innocent, their weapons will be returned after the court dismisses the case. In some cases, all weapons may need to be turned over to law enforcement. This can include knives, crossbows, and other weapons used in hunting. If a defendant is released from jail on a weapons bond and is later found to be in possession of a gun or other type of weapon listed, the judge will revoke their bond, a warrant will be issued and they will be returned to jail.
Immigration Bail Bonds
An immigration bail bond is slightly different from a conventional bail bond because of how it's secured. When someone from another country is arrested, they are still entitled to the rights of the Constitution which allows them to post bond and be released from jail. The main difference in this type of case is that the defendant has ties to another country. For this reason, the judge will normally set the bond for an immigrant exceedingly high as a deterrent to prevent them from trying to flee the court's jurisdiction. If the defendant applies for a bond, one of the stipulations the court may request is they turn over any travel papers they may have that allows them to go from country to country. This can include visas, student visas, passports, or immunization/ health records. During the time they are out on bond, the defendant must check in with the agents of Mesquite Bail Bonds and report where they are staying at all times. This information allows the courts to check on them as needed to guarantee they are still within the jurisdiction of the court.
Domestic Violence Bail Bonds
A domestic violence bail bond is required when a person is arrested on charges of domestic violence. This can involve verbal or physical threats and injuries to the victim. During a domestic violence case, one of the judge's main goals is to provide the victim with a protective order that prevents the defendant from making contact with them in any way. A personal protection order states that if a defendant is found within a certain radius of the victim, their bond will be revoked and they will be returned to jail. In most cases, the radius extends from 100 to 500 feet, depending on the seriousness of the crime. If the defendant refuses to comply with this stipulation, the judge may choose to keep the defendant in jail by denying them bond. This is a rare occurrence and normally takes place if the crime the defendant is charged with is extremely violent and the defendant received substantial injuries during the assault.
Property Bail Bonds
A property bail bond is one that is secured with physical property. Most bonds are secured by cash, check, money order, cashier's check or a credit/debit card. With a property bond, the co-signer can offer real estate, vehicles, boats, jewelry, Certificates of Deposit, or any other item that is appraised at a value of at least one and a half times the total bond amount. For example, if a defendant's bond is $100,000, the property would have to be equal to or exceed $150,000 to be considered. The property must also be owned free and clear by the co-signer. There can be no liens or judgments against it that would prevent it from being sold if the bond is forfeited. If property is being used to secure a bail bond, the process will take much longer to complete because its value must be investigated and approved by an appraiser. After the case is closed, the property will be returned to the co-signer as long as all court fees and costs have been paid. If the defendant's bond is forfeited for any reason, the property will be liquidated and the proceeds used to pay off the bond, the bail bond agent, and any court fees and costs that may be owed. Once everything has been paid, the remainder of the proceeds will be returned to the co-signer.
Talk to a Bail Bonds Agent for More Information
When contacting a bail bonds agent, the first thing you need to know is what type of charges are being filed against the defendant. This will determine several things, including the approximate bond amount, the type of bond needed, and any stipulations the defendant may have to agree to in order for them to be released from jail. At Mesquite Bail Bonds, all of our agents are highly trained and will be able to find out any information you may be missing. They will be able to answer your questions about the different types of bail bonds that are used and how they work. While all bail bonds are processed in the same manner, the court may require specific stipulations that the defendant must comply with while they are out on bond.
Mesquite Bail Bonds is located at 450 Hillside Dr. #106 in Las Vegas, NV. Agents are available around the clock and can answer any questions you may have. If you are made aware of an arrest and don't know where to turn, your first call should be to our office at 702-342-1019. Our agents have the knowledge and experience to help you find the answers you need and relieve your stress and frustration. Don't wait to get help. Once you call our office, one of our agents can give you the information you need and have the bail bonds process started in a matter of minutes. You don't have to walk this road alone. We are here to help and we have the answers you need.