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Myths to Ignore Regarding Bail Bonds And Why You Should Vote Against California’s Bail Reform

March 24, 2020 by Bail Man

Every year, there are more than $14 billion worth of bail bonds issued throughout the U.S. However, despite the fact that the bail bond industry has become as big as it has, there are still numerous myths that surround bail bonds. Bail bondsmen play a huge role in helping to dispel many of these myths when they work closely with their clients. Take a look at some of the myths about bail bonds that you should ignore from now on when you hear them.

Myth #1: All bail bonds come from shady bail bondsmen.

Bail bondsmen have, unfortunately, earned an undeserved reputation for being untrustworthy and deceitful people in some circles. There are even some people out there who mistakenly believe that bail bondsmen are ex-criminals or connected to crime. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Most bail bondsmen are hard-working people who truly want to help those who find themselves in the middle of a legal situation. They often go above and beyond to make sure these people don’t have to sit in jail while they await trial.

Myth #2: Bail bonds free those accused of committing crimes of their legal obligations.

There are many celebrities who have been accused of “buying their way out of jail” over the years. This has led to some people believing that it’s actually possible for people to pay money to avoid legal troubles. It has also led to some people thinking that there are people who do this by obtaining bail bonds to steer clear of their legal obligations. But this is, of course, not true. Bail bonds can be used to get those accused of crimes out of jail, but these people are still required to take part in the legal process once they get out. In fact, their bail bonds are in place to make sure that they do.

Myth #3: The bail bond industry isn’t regulated at all.

Some people will tell you that the bail bond industry has turned into the Wild Wild West with no regulations in place to hold bail bondsmen accountable for their actions. But this is simply not true at all. To become a bail bondsman in California, you need to take classes, apply for a license, and pass an exam before you can begin working. The bail bond industry is so much more regulated than people realize.

Now that you know a little bit more about bail bonds, you should have a better understanding as far as why they’re so important. You should also see why so many bail bondsmen are upset about the state of California attempting to overhaul the current bail system. Senate Bill 10 could wipe the bail bond industry out and do a lot of harm to those who rely on it when they’re placed under arrest and taken to jail.

At Bail Man Bail Bonds, we don’t want to see this happen. Our hope is that we will be able to continue to provide affordable bail bonds to those who need them. Call us at 866-945-2245 if you’re in need of a bail bond for yourself or a family member.

Reasons to be Skeptical of California’s Push to Overhaul the Bail System

January 24, 2020 by Bail Man

Back in August 2017, former California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 10 and turned it into a law. The landmark law, which was created to abolish the money bail system in the state, was scheduled to go into effect in fall 2019. Ever since then, human rights groups and many others have argued against the law and helped to put it on the back burner… for now. California voters are will be in charge of deciding the law’s fate in November 2020, and multitudes of people and groups are hoping that it gets voted down.

When it was initially proposed, those who supported Senate Bill 10 said that it would help overhaul the bail system and stop many people from getting locked up for long periods of time or getting pressured into accepting plea deals due to financial troubles. However, those who have pushed back against it have said that they believe the bill could do way more harm than good if it becomes a law. Here are some reasons why they’re so skeptical of it.

It could give too much power to judges.

In the past, judges already wielded a lot of power when deciding whether or not to allow those convicted of crimes to leave jail before facing a trial. They could choose whether or not to set bail for them and control their fate in a lot of ways. Under Senate Bill 10, they could conceivably have even more power. They would be responsible for using a computer program to determine whether or not someone accused of a crime should be considered a flight risk. This could lead to a person being unfairly detained by a judge simply because of what they believe after using a computer program.

It could lead to a person’s detention for almost any crime.

Outside of putting a lot of power into the hands of judges, critics of Senate Bill 10 have also ripped it for being entirely too broad when it comes to identifying which crimes people should be detained for ahead of a trial. They’ve called the bill out for failing to differentiate much between violent crimes and low-level misdemeanors. They worry that it could lead to prosecutors pushing for the detention of those who don’t necessarily need to be detained. They also worry that it could lead to some people who have been accused of violent crimes being set free.

It could decimate the bail bond industry.

There are more than 3,000 bail agents in California at this time. Senate Bill 10 would essentially make it impossible for them to do business moving forward. It would wipe out part of a large industry and hurt the state’s economy. What’s more, it could also set a precedent for the same thing to happen in other states.

The state will have to wait until later this year to see where Senate Bill 10 stands. For now, California’s current bail system will remain in place. If you would like to take advantage of it, Bail Man Bail Bonds

can help you by providing you with fast instant bail approval. Call us at 866-945-2245 if you need to arrange for bail to be paid for a loved one.

Everything You Need to Know About the Different Types of Bail Bonds

August 20, 2019 by thehoth

There are many types of bail bonds, and it can feel like a quagmire figuring out what each one is. In the following article, we’ll attempt to straighten out some of the confusion surrounding the system. We’ll also discuss what influences eligibility and what the future might look like for the current system.

What Influences Eligibility?

Many factors can influence your eligibility for bail. These factors are pretty universal no matter which of the seven bond types we’re talking about below. They are:

Flight risk: do you have a history of “failure to appear” on your record? If so, it will be more difficult to get bond granted.
The seriousness of the crime: public intoxication is not the same as murder in the eyes of the law. The former is likely to receive bail while the latter either won’t, or they’ll face a very high cash bond amount.
Prior criminal history: if it’s a first offense and a misdemeanor or lower-grade felony, you’re a pretty good candidate for bail eligibility. Habitual offenders or individuals with outstanding warrants will face higher bail amounts or no bail at all.
Familial obligations: you may be the only one working or you may be sole caregiver to an indigent person. Maybe you’re a parent to one or more children. The court will factor all these scenarios into their decision.
Community ties: the court probably won’t consider individuals who are heavily invested in their communities (i.e., community organizers, politicians, or philanthropists) serious flight risks.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of what may influence the court’s determination. Depending on what the situation is, the court could use one or several to make its final decision.

The Bond Types Explained

Once you know you’re eligible, it’s time to explore your options. Some of these are harder to get than others. See what your bondsman can do before making a final decision.

1. Cash Payment

Cash payment is sometimes referred to as a cash bond. Of the different types of bonds, this one is easiest to understand.

The court sets the amount. You pay the amount in cash. You get released.

Before you ask, the court won’t accept any type of collateral in place of cash. And you don’t pay a percentage of the bail. You pay the full amount.

Courts may set these unusually high to keep certain types of defendants — violent individuals, flight risks — from attaining bail. The money usually gets returned to the defendant if he made all required court appearances.

If you don’t show up, you don’t receive a refund.

2. Surety Bond

The cash bail system is a direct relationship between the court and the defendant. A surety bond adds one variable to that equation: a third-party payor.

In these cases, the third-party would pay the bail to the court for the defendant. Of the various types of bail on this list, surety bonds can be a bit harder to get.

That’s because the bond company does a risk assessment before taking on the client. If a defendant’s finances, credit report, and criminal history are in question, approval would be unlikely.

Qualifying for a surety bond is a good way of mitigating the costs of bail after you’re arrested. You usually pay between 10 and 15 percent of the bail amount and may get part of that back after honoring the agreement.

3. Citation Release

Of the different bond types, you’ll probably want a citation release more than anything else. You can go home immediately, often from the scene of the incident.

The only stipulation is that you agree to show up for your court appearance as instructed. Failure to do so can result in fines and penalties and, in rare cases, jail time.

Police won’t issue a citation release to anyone. These are typically reserved for misdemeanor offenses.

4. Signature Bond

Among the different types of bail, the signature bond is second only to citation release in terms of what the accused would prefer. These are sometimes called “recognizance bonds,” so if you are “released on your own recognizance,” you will end up signing a signature bond (or “sig-bond,” for short).

The advantage to a sig-bond is that you get out of jail immediately without having to sign over any cash or property. That said, failure to appear will usually result in a monetary judgment that’s determined before your release.

5. Immigration Bond

One of the bail bond types you’re hearing more about with current events is the immigration bond. This falls under the purview of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. There are two sub-types:

Departure bond: The detained generally pays a refundable $500 amount and agrees to leave the country on their dime. The money goes back to them once they have done so.
Delivery bond: This is pretty much a cash or surety bond for a detained foreign national in the US illegally. Amounts start around $1,500 and can go much higher depending on the accused’s risk factors.

If one plans to stay in the country, it’s a good idea to use this time to seek the help of an immigration lawyer. Also, it’s time to get family affairs in order and prepare for the possibility of deportation.

6. Property Bond

A defendant who attains a property bond will do so after first putting up some amount of property as collateral. The property will usually need to be double (or more) of the bail bond amount.

Automobiles, jewelry, and real estate are the most common types of collateral offered, but the court or bond company will accept any item of value.

7. Federal Bail Bond

You can only get the last type of bail bond on our list through the federal courts’ system. In these cases, there will be a co-signer for your release who guarantees a sum of money should you fail to meet the bail obligations.

A federal judge will determine the eligibility of the person signing the release. They look at the financial stability and reputation of the signee when deciding whether to approve.

What Is Next for These Types of Bail Bonds?

In California, These types of bail bonds are at risk. That’s thanks to a proposed law known as SB 10.

This law would eliminate bail, putting public safety and dollars at risk while finding new ways to discriminate against the poor and people of color. Click here to learn more about the threat. And if you need bail assistance, don’t forget to call the Bail Man today.