What is the process of bail?
Valrico criminal defense attorneys are often asked about how bail/bond is set in a criminal case. First, it is worth mentioning and discussing what exact purpose a bail bond serves. Bail bonds are only intended to ensure your continued appearance at court proceedings. The Court is relying on the defendant fearing losing the money of the posted bond to ensure their continued appearance at hearings.
Secondly, it is impossible to accurately determine the bond in your case without knowing many factors including the specific charges, number of charges, the facts of the case, your prior record, prior record of attending court hearings and other similar matters. Regardless, an individual in Florida is generally entitled to a reasonable bond.
The majority of individuals in your situation utilize a bondsman to assist in posting the bail bond. Generally, bondsmen require 10% of the bond up front, and then they agree to post the bond. Since the bondsman has a clear financial interest in the case, they will ensure you are notified of upcoming court dates. Ultimately if you fail to appear, the bondsman will certainly attempt to locate you and return you to the jurisdiction to recover their money.
You also have the option of posting a cash bond with the Court. This generally only occurs when the Court requires relatively low bonds. As long as the bail bond is still maintained at the end of the case, the Court will either return the cash bond and/or apply a portion of the bail bond to the total fines and court costs of the case.
Retaining one of the experienced Valrico criminal defense attorneys of Hackworth Law will assist you in ensuring you receive a manageable bond. Our Valrico criminal defense attorneys will assist you in preparing and arguing bond reduction motions and bond hearings. If you have any additional questions or comments, contact our office for a free case consultation.