Bail Considerations Before Turning Yourself In
The thought of having the police come to your home or place of business and arrest you can be chilling. Individuals who have active warrants out for their arrest run the risk of being taken into custody at any time. If you want to face your charges on your own terms, it can be beneficial to turn yourself in rather than waiting for an arrest.
Bail can apply to those who turn themselves in, so you should plan ahead to bail yourself out of jail if you want to minimize the time you spend behind bars.
Bail Qualification
The first consideration you need to make when evaluating your options for obtaining release after you turn yourself in to the police is whether or not you qualify for bail. Some judges will not automatically set bail for individuals who have missed court appearances in the past or who been charged with violent crimes.
You may also be denied bail if a judge feels that you are a flight risk. You can work with an attorney to evaluate whether or not bail qualifies in your case, and take action to request bail if an amount is not currently set.
Secured or Unsecured Bond
Once you know that you are eligible to bail yourself out of jail after you have turned yourself in, you should visit with a bondsman to determine whether or not you need a secured or unsecured bond. Incarcerated individuals who cannot afford to pay bail amounts in full take advantage of bonds issued by bail bond companies.
For a small percentage of the bail, a bondsman will put up the cash for your release. Once you appear in court, the money is returned to the bondsman in full. A secured bond is one that is protected by collateral. Common collateral options include a home, the title to a vehicle, or other valuable physical property.
Unsecured bonds are usually reserved for lower bail amounts and can be obtained with just a signature.
Adjustable Bail
A judge has a lot of discretion when it comes to setting bail for most arrested individuals. Exceptions are cases that carry a preset bail amount according to statute. If you feel that the bail assigned to your case is too high, you can work with an attorney to schedule a bail reduction hearing.
This hearing will give you the opportunity to present evidence which proves you will not skip out on bail. You can lower your bail amount before your arrest to make it easier to obtain your release afterward.
For more information, talk to a local bail bond company.