What’s the Bail Bond Process in Lancaster, OH?

If you or you’re loved one has been arrested for a criminal offense, you may be placed in jail. You might be familiar with the term “being released on bail,” but might not fully understand what that entails.

While posting bail might seem like all you have to do is pay money to the court, and you will be released, it’s actually a more complex process. You first must attend a hearing, where a judge will consider the crime you allegedly committed, your criminal history, and the risk of your fleeing. From there, they will set a bail amount; however, in some severe cases, they might not set bail at all.

Once you know how much you need to be released from jail, you must pay that to the court. Unfortunately, you may not immediately be able to post the full amount, which means you must wait in jail until your case is decided. Because some cases can be lengthy, this could mean you’re held in custody for months to years. Such a situation could be costly to your reputation, your future, and your ability to start building a legal defense.

If you’re unable to pay the bail amount on your own, you can turn to a Lancaster, OH bail bond company like All Ohio Bail Bonds. When you reach out to our team, we’ll discuss your situation during a free consultation. This allows us to get to know you and provide important information about the process and what you can expect. We’ll also arrange a payment plan with you.

When you choose our Lancaster, OH bail bondsmen, we’ll post a bond on your behalf for a small percentage of the bail amount, allowing you to be released from jail. After your release, you’ll be required to attend all scheduled court hearings. If you fail to appear, you must pay the entire amount of the initial bail.

What’s a Bail Bond?

Because bail amounts can be high, the amount a defendant must pay for release may be outside of their immediate financial means. However, just because they can’t post bail on their own doesn’t mean that they have to await trial in jail. They can seek assistance from a bail bond company to help secure release from custody.

A Lancaster bail bond company, All Ohio Bail Bonds, gives the court a promissory note assuring that the defendant will attend all scheduled hearings. It also provides that if the defendant fails to appear, the agency will pay the entire amount of bail.

In exchange for their services, the bail bond company assesses a small premium. Typically, the fee is 10% of the bail amount.

In short, a bail bond is a surety provided by an agency promising that the defendant will show up to court; otherwise, the entire bail amount will be paid. Essentially, it is a way for a person to get out of jail when they might not have the money on hand to bail themselves out.

The fee for a bail bond is non-refundable, but the individual will only be required to pay a portion of their bail amount. Still, it’s important to note that if the defendant fails to show up for court, they must pay the remaining 90% of their bail.

What Does It Mean to Be Bailed Out of Jail?

When someone’s out on bail, that means they have paid to the court the amount of money a judge set during a bail hearing. It may also mean that the defendant or their friends or family members enlisted an agency’s help to post bond on the defendant’s behalf. The monetary requirement is not a punishment; rather, it’s a way to ensure that the defendant (the person accused of a crime) returns to court for all scheduled hearings.

Instead of waiting in custody until their case is resolved, when a person has been bailed out, they are released from jail, allowing them to await their trial at home or other authorized location.

Being out on bail has several benefits:

• The individual, who is presumed innocent, does not have to sit behind bars until their court date.
• The individual can spend more quality time with loved ones, as they’re not restricted to correctional facility visitation times.
• The individual can more confidentially and confidently work closely with their legal counsel to build their defense.

What Conditions Are Part of Bail?

During the bail hearing, a judge will set bail and determine what conditions the defendant must abide by upon their release.

Conditions of bail can include, but are not limited to:

• Being under house arrest
• Being under electronic monitoring
• Forfeiting firearms
• Attending drug or alcohol addiction programs
• Remaining crime-free
• Complying with travel restrictions
• Refraining from contacting specific individuals
• Staying away from certain locations

Of course, the individual must also show up for all hearings concerning their case.

If the person violates their conditions of bail, they could face severe sanctions. For instance, their bail could be revoked, meaning they would be placed in custody again and required to remain there until the conclusion of their case. They may also face criminal charges, which would carry penalties in addition to those that could be imposed for the offense they were initially accused of.

Helping You Through Your Case from Start to Finish

Fairfield County Bail Bonds agents, our Lancaster bail bondsmen will maintain open and honest communication with you throughout the bail bond process. Our team will update you on any changes and answer your questions along the way.