How Does Bail Bondsman Work?
Basics Bail is provided to the courts as a guarantee that an arrested person will return to court for a hearing. A judge usually sets the bail amount. If a prisoner cannot pay the amount dictated by the judge, a bail bondsman may be used to secure the person’s release. A bail bondsman will agree to post the bail for a fee, typically 10 percent of the total bail amount required. The arrested party, friend or family member agree to pay the bail bondsman the full amount of the bail if the defendant does not appear in court. The cosigner also agrees to pay any expenses incurred by the bail bondsman if he must locate the defendant to bring him in for the court appearance. While bail bondsmen usually do not require collateral to post most moderate bail amounts, the person signing the bail agreement must be working and living in the area. Duties Bail bondsmen are given the power to detain and arrest a client who does not appear in court on the required date. Bail bondsmen and their contractor
