A bail bondsman, also known as a bail bond agent or bail agent, is a person or entity that provides financial assistance to individuals who are unable to afford the full amount of bail set by a court. When someone is arrested and unable to pay bail to secure their release from jail pending trial, they may seek the services of a bail bondsman. The bondsman typically charges a non-refundable fee, known as a premium, which is a percentage of the total bail amount, typically around 10-15%. In exchange for this fee, the bail bondsman posts a surety bond with the court, guaranteeing the defendant’s appearance at all scheduled court hearings. If the defendant fails to appear in court as required, the bail bondsman may be responsible for paying the full bail amount to the court. Bail bondsmen play a critical role in the criminal justice system by providing defendants with access to pretrial release while ensuring compliance with court obligations.
n. a professional agent for an insurance company who specialises in providing bail bonds for people charged with crimes and awaiting trial in order to have them released. The offices of a bail bondsman (or woman) are usually found close to the local courthouse and jail, his/her advertising is found in the yellow pages, and some make “house calls” to the jail or hand out cards in court. Bail bondsmen usually charge the suspect a fee of 10 percent of the amount of the bond. If a bail bondsman has reason to believe a person he bailed out is about to flee, he may revoke the bond and surrender his client to jail.
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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.
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