When your loved one is arrested in Colorado, you can post a bail bond to have them out of jail. A bail bond is a monetary promise that the defendant will attend all the court hearings. If you need a reliable Morgan County bail bondsman, you can rely on our experienced bail bondsman at the 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds. Our bail bondsmen are conveniently located near the main courts and jails. You will always receive prompt assistance, whether you contact us at night or on holidays.
The Bail Process In Morgan County
If you need to bail out a loved one and do not have adequate income to post bail in cash, a Morgan County bail bondsman can help. You are a co-signer or an indemnitor when you hire a bail bondsman to bail a defendant out of custody. Because a bail bond is a legal contract, you must be at least 18 to bail someone out of jail.
A bail bondsman posts bail on your behalf in exchange for the following:
- You pay a premium, usually 15% of the bail figure. This premium is non-refundable even if the court rules you are not guilty.
- Sometimes, the bail bondsman can require you to provide collateral. Collateral shields the bail bondsman if the defendant skips bail, leading to bail bond forfeiture.
You can pay the bail bond premium in cash, through a credit card, or any other payment method the bail bondsman accepts. If you cannot pay the full premium in cash, you can work out a repayment plan with the bail bond provider, where you pay the premium in installments.
Your loved one will be out of custody within a few hours after the Morgan County bail bondsman posts bail. You will not have to deal with the bail bondsman again, provided the defendant attends all court hearings and adheres to the court orders.
If the arrestee fails to attend court sessions, the judge can forfeit the bail amount and issue a bench warrant of arrest. If this happens, the bail bondsman can:
- Employ a bounty hunter to find the defendant to bring them back to court
- Use the item provided as collateral to recover the forfeited bond and cover the expenses of hiring a bounty hunter.
Bail Amounts In Morgan County
Every county in Colorado has a bail schedule that judges can use when setting bail. The bail amounts differ depending on the types of offenses and whether an offense is a felony or misdemeanor. Some minor violations, like infractions, do not need bail. Under bail schedules, severe crimes like first-degree murder do not qualify for bail. In this case, the defendant must remain in jail until trial completion.
Despite the existence of bail bond schedules, judges have a right to use discretion to set amounts outside the bail schedules. When determining the appropriate bail amount, the judge considers if the defendant:
- Can pose a danger or is a threat to the community
- Has the financial capacity to post bail
- Poses a danger to the community
Pre-trial Assessment Tool
Judges can use the pre-trial assessment tool when determining if a defendant is likely to skip bail or commit a subsequent offense while out of custody on bail. This tool assigns the defendant a score based on the following factors:
- Whether the defendant has a home or mobile phone
- Does the defendant own or rent a residence?
- If the defendant contributes to residential payments
- Current or past challenges with alcohol
- Current or past mental health treatments
- Age of first arrest
- Previous jail sentences
- If the defendant is on supervision
- Active or current arrest warrants
- History of bond revocation
- Pending cases
Based on the score, the judge assigns the defendant a risk category. This category indicates whether the defendant is likely to skip bail or commit an additional crime while out on bail.
Common Bail Bonds Types
Other than posting a surety bond through your Morgan County bail bondsman, there are several other ways of posting bail. The type of bail imposed will depend on the offense, risk assessment, and statutory release conditions. Other common types of bail include:
- Cash bail
- Personal recognizance bonds
- Property bonds
Bail Conditions In Morgan County
When a Morgan County bail bondsman posts bail on behalf of the defendant, the defendant must adhere to several conditions when out on bail. A universal condition is that the defendant must attend all the set court sessions. The defendant must also comply with a compulsory restraining order. This means that the defendant should not contact, retaliate against, intimidate, or tamper with the victim or witnesses of their case.
The judge can impose other conditions as follows:
- Periodic office visits
- Periodic telephone contacts
- Impromptu alcohol or drug testing
- Police officers can visit the defendant's home from time to time
- Substance abuse counseling and treatment
- Notifying the court about a change in residence or address
- The defendant must avoid committing additional offenses
- Electronic monitoring
- Pre-trial work release
Bail conditions facilitate the pretrial release of defendants who pose little risk to society and are unlikely to miss court hearings.
If the offender does not comply with the bail conditions, the court can:
- Forfeit the bail and send the defendant back to jail, a situation known as bail revocation
- Set a higher bail amount and impose harsher bail conditions
Whether The Defendant Can Leave The State While Out On Bail
The defendant must seek court permission and consent from their Morgan County bail bondsman before leaving the country while on bail. Leaving the state without informing the bail bondsman and the court can violate bail bond conditions.
Failing To Appear
It is a crime to fail to appear in court. If a defendant misses the court hearings intentionally, the prosecutor can accuse the defendant of failing to appear. Failing to appear is a class 6 felony whose penalties can include:
- A fine ranging from $1,000 to $100,000
- Imprisonment ranging from one year to 18 months in a county jail
If a defendant has committed a sex offense and fails to appear in court, he/she will be subject to a minimum mandatory jail time of one year. During this time, there will be no possibility for probation or a suspended sentence.
Court Information
Morgan County Combined Court
400 Warner St, Fort Morgan,
CO 80701, United States
Jail information
Morgan County Jail
400 Warner St, Fort Morgan,
CO 80701, United States
Find an Experienced Bail Bondsman Near Me
If your loved one is in jail and you need a reliable Morgan County bail bondsman that you can count on, we can help. At the 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, we have experienced bail bondsmen who can help you post a bail bond without hassle. When you call us, we will ensure that your loved one is out of jail within a short time. Contact us at 800-930-8999 to speak to one of our bail bondsmen.