What TV Doesn't Tell You About Court Bail Bonds

If you're a true-crime fan and watch lots of television involving lawyers or police, you probably know something about bail bonds. However, if someone you know should ever need one, it's important to realize that the television shows you love aren't giving you the whole story about the process required to get someone out of jail. What should you know?

1. There are Multiple Bond Types

After watching so many shows, you may think that every bail bond is the same. In reality, different bond types exist for different kinds of crimes and defendants. Surety bail bonds, for instance, are the type that many know about; bail bondsmen work to help defendants cover the entire cost of their bonds. But there are many others. For instance, a federal bail bond is for those who are thought to have committed a federal crime, and those are not handled by bondsmen. They are negotiated with and processed by the court itself.

2. Bondsmen Can Refuse

TV shows suggest that heading over to a bail bonding company will get someone a bond without trouble. However, what TV shows often don't mention is that bondsmen can flat out deny bond requests. As in other businesses, the bondsmen will consider their own risks and the likelihood that a defendant will remain in town. If you ever find yourself needing bond assistance or know someone who does, waiting for bonding company approvals can mean more time in a holding facility. It's best to ask around and consult more than a few companies instead of only focusing on one.

3. Release isn't Immediate

Many television programs imply that once a bond is approved, the defendant is immediately free. In real life, release isn't always as quickly done. A holding facility may have specific protocols that prevent release, for example, while weekends and holidays might have an effect.

4. Loved Ones Could End Up Fleeing

On TV, innocent people aren't like guilty people; most of the time on a show an innocent person won't disappear or need to be rounded up by a bounty hunter. Life is more complicated. If you should ever purchase a court bail bond for someone, know they could break your heart and skip town. For that reason, it's so important to carefully read documents and truly accept what you may be risking when you involve yourself with a bail bond.

Television shows are fascinating, but they don't always tell the complete truth. With this knowledge, you've got more information about court bail bonds if you ever need one or buy one for another person. Click here to investigate more, or talk with a bail bonds company for more details.


Share