When you are arrested for a crime in Connecticut, you will be detained in jail while your trial is pending. Sitting behind bars for weeks or months awaiting trial can take a toll on your mental and emotional well-being.
Fortunately, you can secure a release before trial through bail. During your first appearance before the court, the judge sets your bail based on the seriousness of your crimes and other factors in your case.
While you can present the set bail amount in cash and secure a release, the amount may be unaffordable for you and your family. Posting bail bonds is cost-effective and convenient for many defendants in Bridgeport, CT. At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, we will provide the financial help needed to secure your bail release.
What is a bail?
Bail is money paid in court in exchange for a release from a pending criminal case. Posting bail guarantees the court that you will return to court for scheduled trials. When defendants are arrested for violating Connecticut law, they are booked into a jail cell and detained until the court schedules their trial. However, the right to bail allows them to continue with their lives as they make constant court appearances.
The court will set your bail at your first arraignment. Depending on the circumstances of your case, the court will attach some conditions to your release. Bail can be posted in cash, using property, or with the help of a bail bond agency.
If you choose to post bail in cash, you must pay the full bail amount to the court clerk before your release. While this method of posting your bail is quick and convenient, it is costly. Additionally, posting a high bail amount in cash could cause financial scrutiny from the court.
For this reason, many defendants opt for other bail payment options, including bail bonds and property bonds. Bail does not serve as punishment for criminal conduct. Therefore, you could recover the amount paid when the case ends. Your criminal case outcome does not affect bail recovery.
If you post bail for a loved one, you must ensure they appear in court as scheduled and follow all the bail conditions. Skipping bail or violating bail conditions could lead to a forfeiture, which means the bail money will not be refunded.
Factors Considered When Setting Bail
Posting bail is a sure way of securing a fast release with a pending criminal case. However, bail amounts will differ between defendants. When setting your bail, the court will consider these factors:
Nature and Severity of Your Offenses
Federal and state laws stipulate that different crimes attract different bail amounts. The judge could set a high bail amount if you face charges for a serious offense. Bail is meant to discourage you from fleeing to avoid the punishment for your crimes.
Your Criminal History
Your criminal history is essential during the sentencing and bail setting for your case. With a lengthy criminal history, your bail may be higher than that of a first-time offender facing similar charges. The court could deny your bail if you have outstanding warrants in your jurisdiction or were on parole when you committed the offense.
History of Past Court Appearances
Bail assures the court that you will appear for scheduled hearings when you are released before trial. Your bail will likely be high if you have a history of skipping bail or violating court orders. Setting a high bail amount may be a chance for the court to ensure you do not escape after the release.
Community Safety
A bail release will allow a defendant to continue leading their lives while their criminal case is pending. This means you can return to work and spend time with your family. However, the court will consider the safety of others in the community before setting your bail. If you have a history of threatening witnesses or harming people related to the case, your bail may be set at a high amount or denied.
Flight Risk
A defendant’s flight risk is the likelihood of fleeing the jurisdiction after a bail release and failing to return for trial. The court sets a high bail amount for defendants proven to be flight risks. Your flight risk is determined by considering the strength of your ties to the community. You are considered a low-flight risk if you have employment or family to keep you in the jurisdiction after a bail release.
Bail Bond
A bail bond is an agreement between a surety company, the court, and a defendant. The surety agency pays your full bail amount as a fee. Posting a bail bond involves contacting a Bridgeport bail bonds agency for guidance. The company sends a representative to the bail posting process. This is by assessing your situation and determining your eligibility for the bond.
You can seek bail bond services for yourself or a loved one in jail. You will be eligible for the bail bond if you are a low-flight risk and your co-signer can meet the financial obligations of the bail bond. If you seek a bond on behalf of another person, you will serve as their co-signer.
As a co-signer, you will pay the bail bond premium. Connecticut's standard bail bond premium is 10% of the original bail amount. You can pay the premium in full before a release or enter a repayment plan where you give a deposit and can pay the premium balance after a release.
Although the Bridgeport bail bonds company will recover its money when the case ends, the bail bond service fee is non-refundable. In addition to paying a premium fee, the bail bondsman can order you to give collateral for the bond.
If a defendant skips bail and the court forfeits the bond money, the bail bonds company can sell the collateral and recover its money.
Benefits of Hiring a Bridgeport Bail Bondsman
Navigating the legal intricacies of bail is overwhelming when you or your loved one is arrested and detained in Connecticut. Hiring a bail bondsman to guide you through the bail process can have the following benefits:
Faster Release
Spending time behind bars is not ideal for anyone. It keeps you away from your loved ones and friends during this difficult time. Additionally, being in jail could cause you to lose your job because you miss multiple work days. Securing a quick release is essential when you are arrested and charged with an offense.
Bail bond agencies have the resources to ensure a fast release. Additionally, your Bridgeport bail bondsman will be experienced in court procedures, speeding up your release. After your release, you can resume your daily life and avoid the stigma of detention.
Cost Effectiveness
The financial burden of securing a bail release is one of the most significant hurdles you have to overcome when you or a loved one is arrested in Connecticut. Sometimes, the courts set bail too high for you to pay in cash. Lack of bail money could cause your loved one to remain behind bars for longer than necessary.
Additionally, you may be tempted to liquidate valuable assets to raise bail money. Due to the urgent need for funds, you could sell these assets for less than their market value. You will only be responsible for 10% of the total amount when using a bail bond. This gives all defendants a chance at securing bail release.
Confidentiality
Bail bondsmen understand the need for confidentiality in sensitive matters like arrests. Unlike borrowing money from relatives and friends or liquidating assets, posting bail bonds ensures that the details of your arrest are kept confidential. This is critical, especially when you face charges for an offense that could damage your reputation or cause social stigma.
Expert Guidance
The role of a Bridgeport bail bondsman does not end when they post your bail, and you are released from jail. Instead, they will continue to offer the expert insight you need to follow through with the bail release. This could include elaborating on your bail conditions and ensuring you return for our trial.
Jails in Bridgeport, CT:
Bridgeport Correctional Center
1106 North Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Courts Serving Bridgeport, CT:
Superior Court of Bridgeport
1061 Main St.
Bridgeport, CT 0664
Bridgeport Probate Court
999 Broad St.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Find Expert Bail Bond Services Near Me
The time between an arrest and trial can take months or years. Connecticut law allows defendants to be released with a pending trial by posting bail. Depending on the severity of your charges, bail can be set at up to thousands of dollars. Arrests are unexpected, making obtaining bail money and securing a fast release challenging.
However, other options for securing a release include using a property bond or bail bonds. A surety bail company posts your total bail amount for a 10% service fee, making the process easier and more cost-effective.
If you or a loved one seeks bail bond services in Bridgeport, CT, you could benefit from the top-notch bail bond services we offer at 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds. Contact us at 800-930-8999 for much-needed assistance.