How To Ensure You Get Your Bail Money Back
Posting bail for someone is a very serious undertaking. Bail can range from hundreds of dollars to millions of dollars depending on how much money they have at their disposal, the nature of the crime, and other factors. If you're the one who's bailing out the suspected individual, you'll have a lot of money on the line.
Bail is supposed to be refunded in full as long as the stated guidelines are adhered to. This is easier said than done. Even a small error can lead to forfeiture of the full bail amount. How can you keep this from happening when you post bail for someone?
Ensure the Suspect Makes it to Court
The main purpose of bail is to give the suspect a major incentive to show up to court. When a person is facing months or years in jail, they may think it's easier to flee to another country or state. Therefore, the court has to either keep them locked up until the trial or give them a good incentive to show up to court for the trial. That's where bail comes in.
If the money used to post bail is yours, ensure that the individual for whom the bail was posted makes it to all their court dates. Missing even one hearing will result in loss of the bail money.
Ensure the Suspect Stays Out of Trouble
The worst thing a suspect can do while out on bail is to get themselves into more trouble. Unfortunately, if you're the one who posted the person's bail, if they get arrested while they're out on bail, it will likely mean that you won't be getting a refund.
As the one with the most to lose, you have to ensure the suspect avoids any situation that could lead to their arrest. Whether it's hanging out with the wrong crowd or just causing a public disturbance, with so much money on the line, you have to ensure the person walks the narrow path.
Consider Using a Bail Bondsman
Using bail bond services might be a better choice for you rather than posting the full bail amount. It's not as easy as it seems to ensure someone makes it to court each time, and keeping them out trouble might be just as hard. When you use the services of a bail bondsman such as those with ASAP Bail Bonds, you'll pay a premium, but it will spare you the risk of losing a lot more money.