If you or a loved one is arrested, it's important to figure out how to pay the bail to get out of jail. Studies conducted by Texas Appleseed show that people who are able to secure a release through a bail bond have a 30% better chance of having the charges against them dismissed. Getting out of jail allows you to better handle the legal situation and make your case. So, what is bail and how do you post it?

Bail v. Bonds

The first thing to know is that bail and a bond are not the same thing. Bail is the money a defendant must pay to be released from jail. It is not a punishment, but a way to make sure the defendant returns for his or her scheduled court dates. If the defendant returns to the court dates as prescribed and is cleared of wrongdoing, the bail will be returned.

A judge determines the bail on a case-by-case basis, and the defendant may have to wait 48-72 hours before being notified of the bail amount. If he or she cannot pay the bail, they will post a bond. A bond is posted on the defendant's behalf. There are several ways to pay for bail, with or without a bond.

Paying For the Bail in Cash

The first way to pay bail is to forego a bond and just pay the amount in cash. This is a good option if the defendant has the cash readily available and the bail is affordable. Again, if the defendant shows up to court, the bail will be returned. If not, the entire bail will be forfeit to the court and the defendant loses the money.

Paying With Collateral

You can also pay with a surety bond based on personal property. Courts may accept a car, jewelry, or a home. A relative can also put their own personal property up for the bond. Again, if the defendant fails to fulfill their obligations to the court, this property will be seized by the court.

Using a Bailbondsman

The last option is to hire a bail bondsman to post bail. A bail bondsman is paid 10% of the bail amount to post the bail bond. The defendant will not get this 10% fee back from the bail bondsmen service, even if they show up to court. However, this removes the risk of losing a larger sum of money or valuable personal property. Bail bondsmen are also valuable assets because of their knowledge of the court system and their obligation to help the defendant make their court appearances.

There are several means of posting bail and getting released from jail. It's a worthwhile option because of the increased odds of the charges against a defendant being dropped. If you aren't in a financial situation to post bail, there's no reason to continue sitting in a cell. Contact the offices of Goodman Bail Bonds for quality assistance.