Bail and Bail Bondsmen

WHAT IS BAIL? 

A person who is arrested may be held in jail pending a bail hearing if the Court believes that the person is a danger to the community or that the person is unlikely to return to court for future proceedings.  The Court will also set bail --a monetary figure-- that the defendant must pay to the court in order to be released pending future proceedings. That bail amount is forfeited to the Court if the defendant fails to appear in the future.

WHAT IS A BAIL HEARING?

Some of the things the Court considers in determining the amount of bail include the persons ties to the community: (1) Length and nature of employment; (2) Presence of family members; (3) Community involvement; (4) Prior criminal history and history of court appearances.

DO I NEED A LAWYER?

Your attorney will review with you all necessary facts in order to properly present your case for a bail reduction or a release without bail.  Often that release is critical to allow you to communicate and work with you attorney for your defense. How your case is presented at this juncture could well determine whether you are released pending a trial.
 

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE BAIL BONDSMAN

A bail bondsman  is a person who posts bail for the defendant to secure that persons release. In return the bondsman is paid a fee representing a percentage of that bail that is posted.  The bondsman may also require a lien or other security interest in an asset to ensure that the bondsman will be paid if the defendant" jumps" bail by failing to appear in Court.

Choosing a bail bonds agent can be very important. There are many choices and bail bond agents out there.  Often, bondsmen will offer competitive rates.  As a result, you can shop around and negotiate better prices.   When choosing a bail bond company you will want to find one that meets your specific needs and requirements.  For instance, do they service the jail your friend or family member is in? How quickly can they be there? Do they require collateral? Do they offer payment plans?

RELEASE

After the bail bond is posted at the jail the release process may take minutes to several hours depending on whether the individual has completed the booking process and the congestion of that particular jail facility. 

To help you choose a bail bondsman best suited to your needs, we have included information regarding bail bondsmen in Minnesota below. 

BONDSMEN

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