When a person is arrested, he or she may be required to post bail with the court in order to be released from jail. Bail is used to ensure that the defendant appears at his or her court appearance. If the defendant is able to, he or she can post the full amount of bail in cash. However, if he or she cannot post the full amount of bail in cash, then he or she will need to contact a bonding agency. Sometimes a friend or family member of the defendant will be in an easier position to contact an agency on behalf of the defendant. After providing the agency with some basic information, the agency will either provide the court with the necessary amount or enter into an agreement with the county jail to provide the funds at a future date if required. The agency will also charge an appropriate fee on the bond which is posted. This fee is not returned to the defendant, no matter what the outcome of the charges.
Once the bond is provided to the court, the defendant is released; however, in order to get his or her cash back, the defendant must appear at his or her court appearance. If he or she does not, then the bail may be forfeited.
In a few situations, the agency will require collateral to be provided. Usually collateral is required only when the nature of charges are very serious or the size of the bail very large. Collateral could be the title to a vehicle or a mortgage on a piece of property.
REMEMBER: All money an agency provides MUST be returned to the agency. The best thing a defendant can do to ensure the court returns his or her bail is to appear at the appointed court date.