How Does Bail Work?

No-one ever wants to think about going to jail or having a loved one be arrested. But mistakes and accidents are made every day across America, and arrest and the result is often incarceration. Regardless oft the charge or crime, no-one wants to see a friend or family member spend any more time behind bars than necessary. Here is what you need to know about how to bail someone out of jail Philadelphia pa.

Bail Bonds Explained

Assuming the alleged crime is a misdemeanor or low-level felony, you can usually get your loved one out of jail within a matter of hours by posting bond. You will need to go to a bail bonds service (most of which are open 24/7) and explain the nature of the arrest and charge. Bail bonds agents will know the going rate for most common charges and are well connected with the appropriate people at the jails to facilitate bail.

How to Post Bail

A bail bonds service agrees to post the bail in exchange for a non-refundable fee, which varies based on the charge, but is typically around 10% of the bond. In addition to paying the fee, the person asking how to bail someone out of jail Philadelphia pa guarantees that the person charged with the crime is not a flight risk and will appear at scheduled court appearances. Failure to do so will result in the person posting bond having to pay the bail bonds service the full price of bail, and possibly the expenses for them to locate and bring in the person who doesn’t show.

What Happens Next

After the arrangement is made with the bail bonds service, how to bail someone out of jail Philadelphia pa is simple. The bond agent goes to the jail, fills out some paperwork, and brings the person charged out.

As long as the defendant makes their court appearances and the guarantor pays the bond service’s fee, that is the end of the process.