A defendant has a right to bail after an arrest for committing a crime in Connecticut. The courts use bail to ensure a defendant attends all court hearings and does not leave the jurisdiction after the release. Bail amounts vary depending on the nature of your charges and other case facts.
While you can present the entire bail amount and secure a fast release, many defendants find it unaffordable. Fortunately, you can secure a release by exploring other options, like property and bail bonds. Bail bond companies will post bail for you at an affordable fee.
If you seek a bail release for yourself or a loved one, you will benefit from our services at 24-Hour Online Bail Bonds. Our Rocky Hill bail bondsmen will work hard to ensure you receive the financial assistance and expert guidance you need for a release.
Bail in Connecticut
Bail is an agreement between a defendant and the court. The defendant pays the court a certain amount in exchange for a release with a pending trial. The court will hold a bail hearing on the first arraignment, where you can convince the judge to release you on your own recognizance.
This means that you will not make a monetary commitment to the court for a release. If you are ineligible for an own recognizance release, the judge will set a specific bail amount, which must be paid before you are released.
Different factors in your case will significantly determine the bail amount you need to pay. Some of these factors will include the seriousness of the crimes, your criminal history, and your flight risk. When the court sets your bail, you can pay it in cash, using property, or with the help of a bail bonds company.
Posting a cash bail requires you to provide the full bail amount to the court clerk before release. While this could be fast and less complicated, the bail amounts set by the courts in the state may be too high. If you post a property bond, you must present valuable property to the court in exchange for the release.
Bail Bonds
Most defendants who lack enough money or valuable property for bail opt for a bail bond. Posting a bail bond involves receiving the financial assistance you need from a Rockley Hill bail bonds company.
You can seek a bail bond for yourself or a loved one arrested and detained in Connecticut. When using a bail bond, you will be responsible for 10% of the bail amount, which acts as the service fee and is non-refundable.
In addition to the bail bond service fee, the surety company may require you to provide collateral for the bail bond. The collateral is used to leverage the bail bond and avoid the loss of the bail bond in a forfeiture. When you contact a Rocky Hill bail bonds company for assistance, they will send a bail bondsman to guide you through the bail process.
Role of a Rocky Hill Bail Bondsman
A bail bondsman is a professional representative of a bail bonds company whose roles in your case include:
Investigate your Eligibility for a Bail Bond
Not all defendants are eligible for a bail bond. Before the surety company offers assistance, a bail bondsman will consider your flight risk and history of skipping bail. The bondsman will also consider your ability to pay for the bail bond services. Another person can seek the bond for you, which makes them a co-signer on your release.
Fill the Paperwork
Bail bonds are legally binding agreements. Therefore, you will need to fill out numerous documents to sign the agreement. When you work with a skilled bail bondsman, they will be responsible for filing the paperwork and presenting it to the court. This makes the process less tedious for you.
Posting your Bail
When you seek a bail bond for yourself or a loved one, the bail bondsman is liable for presenting the bail money to the court. This means you will only need to make occasional trips to the court to secure a release. Since the bail bondsmen are well-versed in the court system, they can quickly post the money and ensure a release.
Acts as an Intermediary between a Defendant and the Court
The role of a bail bondsman does not end when a defendant is released from jail. Instead, they must continue to act as the intermediary between the court, the surety company, and the defendant. Constant communication with your Rocky Hill bail bondsman will ensure that you understand what the court requires from you while out on bail.
Ensure that a Defendant Returns for Trial
When a bail bonds company offers its services, the bail bondsman is responsible for ensuring that the defendant appears in court for trial and other scheduled proceedings. If you seek a bail bond for yourself, the bail bondsman will help you understand the bail conditions and remind you of any upcoming court dates.
If you skip bail, the bail bondsman can hire a bounty hunter to find you and take you back to court.
Where Does Bail Money Go After My Case Ends?
In Connecticut, bail is no punishment for your offenses. Therefore, the outcome of your criminal case will not affect your ability to recover the amount you paid to the court. There are two common outcomes for your bail money, including:
Bail Exoneration
The money you paid to the court through bail can be refunded after your case ends. However, your bail will only be exonerated when you appear in court for trial and follow all the bail conditions. If you paid your bail in cash, you will receive a check for the full amount from the court a few weeks after your case is concluded.
For defendants who post a property bond, the court will lift the lien placed on the property that was presented as a bond. If you secure a release on bond, the court will refund the bail money to the Rocky Hill bail bonds company when your case ends.
Although the surety company will receive a full refund of money paid to the court, the premium is nonrefundable. However, if you provided collateral for the bail bond, the property will be returned to you after a bail bond exoneration.
Bail Forfeiture
Bail forfeiture occurs when you lose the bail you paid to the court. The court will forfeit your bail when you flee after a release or violate the bail conditions. Some forms of bail violation that could result in the loss of your money include:
- Committing additional offenses while out on bail
- Failure to appear in court for scheduled proceedings
- Violation of no-contact orders
If you secured a release on cash bail, a forfeiture results in the loss of the full bail amount. However, if you post bail with the help of a dash bail bonds company, the court may give the surety company a grace period to find you and return you to jail before forfeiting the bail bond.
During this period, the bail bondsman will enlist the services of a bounty hunter. Bounty hunters are licensed to arrest and detain defendants who skip bail. The court will forfeit the bail bond if the bounty hunter fails to locate you. If a surety company loses money in a forfeiture, it will seize the property you presented as bail bond collateral.
Not all individuals who fail to appear for trial intend to skip bail. If you have valid reasons for failing to appear as scheduled, the court will hold a bail forfeiture hearing. At this hearing, you can present the following argument for failure to appear in court:
- You were in the hospital. If you suffer from serious illnesses and were admitted to the hospital on the hearing date, you can avoid a bail forfeiture.
- You were detained in jail. If you were detained in jail during your court proceedings or trial, you may have a valid reason to fail to appear for trial.
- The court's failure to issue a notice. While on bail, the court must notify you of any scheduled hearings. Failure to be notified can be a basis for not showing up. However, if the notice fails to reach you due to changes in a dress, your argument will not be valid.
Jails in Rocky Hill, CT:
Connecticut Department of Correction
24 Wolcott Hill Rd.
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Judicial Branch Detention Services
936 Silas Deane Hwy.
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Courts serving Rocky Hill, CT:
Newington Probate Court
66 Cedar St.
Newington, CT 06111
Connecticut Division
300 Corporate Pl,
Rocky Hill CT, 06067
Find a Skilled Rocky Hill Bail Bonds Company Near Me
Every person who faces criminal charges in Connecticut has a right to be deemed innocent until proven guilty. Facing an arrest and being booked in jail does not mean you will remain there until the court schedules your trial.
You can be released with a pending trial by posting bail. The bail money guarantees that you will follow through with your case after a release. Not all defendants can afford the amounts needed for bail.
For this reason, using bail bonds is the most convenient and affordable way to secure a release. This involves obtaining the finances you need for a release from a surety company. At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, we provide top-notch bail bond services for our clients in Rocky Hill, CT. Contact us at 800-930-8999 to discuss your bail needs.