Bail is the amount of money or property that a defendant needs to pay in court for them to walk out of jail after arrest. When you are suspected of committing a crime in Texas, you will be arrested and booked in jail. To walk out of jail, bail is used to assure you appear on court dates. The amount you pay as bail is determined by the court at a bail hearing and is influenced by the factors surrounding your case and your criminal history.
If you do not have enough to pay bail in cash, you can engage a bail bond company for assistance in posting bail. If you or your loved one is stuck in jail for lack of bail money, it would be wise to seek the help of 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds. Our Irving bail bond agents offer 24-hour bail bond services to ensure a speedy release from jail.
Overview of Bail and Bail Bonds in Texas
When you are arrested and taken to jail, you are booked in jail, and the process takes a few hours. After booking, you will be given a court date for your hearing. At this moment, you have the choice to remain in jail or seek a release by posting bail. In Texas, there are three ways through which you can be released before trial:
- Release on own recognizance. Being released on your recognizance will not require you to produce any amount of money. You will sign a note stating that you will return for all your court appearances in the county. In most cases, a release on own recognizance is possible for defendants facing minor charges.
- Cash bail. If you have enough money, you can post cash bail for your loved one to secure a quick release from jail awaiting trial. If you decide to post cash bail, you will present the full amount determined by the court before your loved one can go home.
- Surety bail. In most cases, posting cash bail is difficult. Therefore, you will need to seek the services of an Irving Bail Bonds agent to ensure your loved one is released from jail. The surety bond company will arrange to post your bail at a 10% fee of the total bail amount. In Texas, you can pay bail in cash or credit cards. To secure the money they use to pay your bail, bail agents often ask for collateral before posting bail for you or your loved one.
Collateral generally refers to property, vehicles, or any other valuable item that the bail bond company can sell to recover their money. When you fail to appear for the hearing, the bail bond company loses the money they used to bail you out. In return, you will not acquire back the collateral you used for the bail bond.
If your loved one is in police custody and can only be released on bail, you need to go and make physical payments. The court clerk will receive the amount you present as bail. After making the payments, the officers holding your loved one will be notified to make a release. Bail payments are presented in cash, and the court accepts other forms like credit cards.
How Much Does Bail Cost in Texas?
The amount of bail you need to pay for a release awaiting tries varies from one case to another. Often, the type of crime for which you are accused could significantly impact your bail. For example, in Texas, bail is higher for felonies compared to misdemeanors. Sometimes, the court may deny you bail, and in this case, you will remain in jail until the date of your trial.
Each court has a bond schedule that sets a recommended bail amount for each type of criminal offense. The judge has the discretion to increase or reduce bail depending on the circumstances. Some of the factors that could prompt a rise in the amount of bail include:
- Prior convictions. The law is always strict on repeat offenders. If you have been charged or convicted for a crime in the past, the judge could decide to increase your bail. Also, if you have been released on bail in the past and skipped on your court date, the judge may order a high bail or deny it.
- The severity of your crime. When you are charged with a crime with serious consequences, it can be easy to flee and evade the case. Therefore, individuals facing serious charges are either denied bail or the court increases the amount. This could deter a defendant from fleeing and leaving the money behind.
- Presence of restraining orders against you. If you are charged with a serious and violent crime like battery or domestic violence, the court may issue a restraining order against you to protect the victim. If you are arrested and detained with an active restraining order, your bail may be set too high.
- You risk the safety of other people. Before releasing a defendant from police custody, the court will always consider your impact on the community after the release. If you are likely to cause harm to other people, the court may increase your bail or deny it.
- You are a flight risk. A defendant is considered a flight risk if they are likely to flee and skip court dates. The court determines your flight by considering your income and the ties you have to the community. Individuals with ties to the community are less likely to flee and avoid the consequences of their crimes.
- You were on probation at the time of your arrest.
At the hearing where the court determines your bail, you have the opportunity to plead your situation for a bail-amount reduction. By filing a motion of bond reduction, you can outline why you believe that the court should reduce your bail.
Juvenile Bail Bonds in Texas
No parent wants to see their child deal with the juvenile justice system. Therefore, this is always a sad reality to many juveniles in Dallas, Texas. In this state, juveniles are treated differently from adult offenders. For example, the arrest and bail bonds in juvenile courts differ significantly from those in adult courts.
Not all offenses will result in your child being put behind bars. Most juvenile offenders are charged with misdemeanors and may be released directly to the parents’ custody. However, if the crime is severe, officers will send the child to juvenile detention. In adult court, a defendant has the right to post bail and be released before trial. When a minor is detained, the sentencing and bail procedures rest entirely in the hands of the presiding judge. Most juvenile hearings are private. However, when a child is accused of committing a serious crime, they can be tried as adults and face the full consequences of their crimes.
Although bail posting bail is a right for all individuals facing criminal charges, it is not an option for juveniles in most states. However, if your child is arrested and detained in Texas, you can seek the services of an Irving Bail Bonds Agent to secure their release. The bail process for a minor offender retains the 10% service fee to a bail bond agent. As a parent, you are responsible for paying your child’s bail. Also, you will be responsible for their appearance for the hearing.
When dealing with minors, you need a bail agent who understands the urgency of having your child home before trial. If you are a parent or a guardian of a minor facing charges in juvenile court, it would be wise to contact 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds to guide and post your child’s bail.
Conditions of Bail
While bail may not feel like a privilege since you need to pay money, it allows you to remain free while awaiting trial. Before you are released on bail, a judge must sign an order setting specific conditions that you must follow while out on bail. Failure to follow bail conditions can result in bail forfeiture. Typically, bail conditions impose guidelines and restrictions to increase the likelihood of returning to court for your hearing. The conditions will also protect you from further criminal activity and protect other people. Common Bail Conditions in Texas include:
- Regular checkups with a probation officer. If you are released on bail, you must regularly report your progress to a probation officer. The probation officer will also be responsible for ensuring that you comply with all court-imposed conditions.
- Travel restrictions. One of the main court concerns when releasing you on bail is the likelihood of skipping court dates. Therefore, while you are out on bail, you will not be allowed to leave the state until the trial. Traveling out of state may be treated as an attempt to flee. Additionally, you may need to surrender your passport and other travel documents.
- Issuance of a restraining order. When you are arrested and facing charges for violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, or domestic violence, the court will be concerned about the victim’s wellbeing. Before you are released from custody, the judge may issue a protection order keeping you away from the alleged victims.
- Random drug and alcohol tests. One of the conditions imposed by the judge at a bail hearing is that you must submit to all random drug tests as required by law enforcement. In most cases, such a condition is put in place when facing charges like possession of drugs or driving while intoxicated.
- Surrender firearms. In most cases, bail is set high for individuals who have committed serious felony offenses. Therefore, before a release in bail, the court may require that you surrender all your weapons and firearms. Additionally, you will not be able to own, purchase or use a firearm during the period you will be out on bail.
The Role of an Irving Bail Bondsman
If you are arrested for a crime in Texas, the judge may order your release on your recognizance. However, in most cases, a bail hearing is scheduled to determine the amount of money you need to pay to secure a release. In Texas, the bail amount is determined by factoring in the specific circumstances of your case and your criminal history.
Mostly, the arrest of your loved one is always something you cannot prepare to experience. Therefore, raising bail money on short notice could be challenging. However, to ensure a faster release of your loved one from custody or you can’t afford bail money, you can seek the services of a surety bond. The bails bond agent will post the bail for you or your loved one at a fee that you need to agree upon.
When an Irving bail bondsman posts your bail, they take the burden of ensuring that you appear in court to set a date for your hearing. Failure to appear to court after being released on bail could cause the surety company to lose the amount they put up for your bail. In this case, the bail agent will have the right to come after you and claim the full amount they lost to the court.
Although the laws are always changing, the fee you pay for the services of a surety bond is often 10% of the total bail amount. Even though the court will refund all the money posted as your bail to the bail agent after you appear for your hearing, the 10% service fee is non-refundable.
Additionally, before a bail agent posts your bail in Texas, you may need to provide collateral for the bond. If you do not have collateral to secure the bail bond, you could ask a friend or a family member to do it for you. If you provide collateral and cost the surety company by failing to go to court, the bail agent can sell the collateral to recover their money.
Using the services of an Irving Bail Bondsman is beneficial in that you will avoid liquidating your assets to come up with bail money. Also, when your bail is set too high and you pay it in cash, you may be subject to financial scrutiny to ensure that your funds are acquired legitimately. Therefore, you can avoid all these issues by seeking bail bond services.
What Happens When I Fail to Appear For The Hearing After Posting Bail?
Bail jumping is an offense that attracts both civil and criminal consequences. By skipping a court date while out on bail, you risk an arrest and loss of collateral used to secure a bond. When you fail to appear in court, the judge can issue a bench warrant that will always be visible on the police website, and you can be arrested whenever they locate you. The best way to deal with bail jumping is to address it before you are caught. If you can present yourself to the court before the active warrant catches up to you. In this case, you can explain away your reason for skipping bail.
When a bail agent posts your bail, they are responsible for ensuring that you follow all bail conditions and appear in court when required. In addition, the bail bondsman can ask the court to issue an arrest warrant when you attempt to flee. Also, the surety bond company can engage bounty hunters who will track you down and take you back to jail.
Failure to appear for a hearing causes the surety Bond Company to lose the amount they paid to the court as your bail. In return, they will sell the property you used as collateral for bail to recover their money.
Following is a list of jails in Irving, Dallas County:
Addison Police Department
4799 Airport PK,
Addison, Texas 75001
Arlington City Jail
620 W Division
St Arlington, TX 76011
Denton County Jail
127 N Woodrow Ln
Denton, TX 76205
Coalition of Prison
1001 W Euless BLVD
Euless TX 76040
Below is a list of all courts in Irving, Texas, and their contact information:
Irving Municipal Court
305 N’ O’Connor Road
Irving, Texas 75061
Irving City Prosecutors
305 S O’Connor Rd
Irving, Texas
Find an Irving Bail Bondsman Near Me
After an arrest, you can either decide to remain in jail until your hearing date or seek a release through bail. Unless you have committed a serious crime punishable by death, you are entitled to bail. Bail is an assurance to the court that if you are released before trial, you can obey the court orders by appearing in court for the hearing. In Texas, you can be released without monetary commitment or pay bail for a release.
If you want a faster bail process or lack enough funds to pay cash bail, you can use bail bond services. The bail bond company will post your bail and have you walk out of jail. Also, most bail bond agents know local courts and can help you secure a quick release. If your loved one is detained in a jail in Irving, Texas, you will need the help of a bail bonds agent from 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds. Contact us today at 512-890-1903 and allow us to guide you through the bail process.