Staying in jail after an arrest is often stressful because you experience a harsh environment and demanding procedures. If you are a first-time offender, you may also face additional pressure stemming from the uncertainty after arrest. Most people would prefer to leave jail as soon as possible to return to their normal lives.
However, the jail release process in Texas requires the suspect to post bail as an assurance that you would attend court dates. The procedure may be challenging to follow up on, particularly when behind bars. Therefore, requesting the services of a bail bonds company is recommended for an expeditious release process.
Since you need ample time to prepare for the litigation process, leaving jail soon after an arrest is advantageous. This way, you will meet your attorneys and have time to make appropriate family decisions. Bail bond services will provide the assistance you need to achieve these objectives.
Why Bail is Required in Your Release Process
Any person accused of violating the law will be apprehended and detained in police custody until further notice. However, most suspects do not pose any dangers when released as they await an official trial date. However, the court requires a mode of security to ensure that the released suspect will attend all future proceedings. To do this, you will have to post bail with the court in exchange for your freedom.
Usually, the court will refund you the full amount if you follow all the necessary directives. Any display of contempt in court could jeopardize your bail payments, and you risk forfeiting the amount to the court. Hence, you should aim to observe all court appearance dates and any other important issued guidelines.
Different Ways to Post Bail
When you appear for your bail hearing, you may explore several avenues to help you complete the transaction. They include:
Posting a Cash Bail
Firstly, you may choose to post bail by paying cash upfront. This option is often quick and effective, but it requires you to source a significant amount of money within a short period. For most arrested and detained persons, accessing the money on short notice is stressful and often unobtainable. Nonetheless, you may opt for the choice if you can access cash quickly.
Positing a Proprietary Bond
Alternatively, you may post a bond with the court by presenting title documents over the valuable property. Mainly, the court will require title over your house or vehicle in exchange for your court appearances. This option is suitable for persons without access to cash but would still prefer securing their release as soon as possible. However, you should uphold all the court requirements to avoid losing the property to the court due to non-compliance.
Using a Fort Worth Bail Bond Service
The best option for most detained persons involves working with a Fort Worth bond dealer. With the service assistance, you will raise your bail or bond amount faster at a lower fee, securing your release sooner. The service structure involves the bail bondsman making the full transaction on your behalf. Afterward, you will only need to pay a small percentage as a service fee.
Factors Affecting the Bail Hearing
When appearing before a judge, they hold the discretion when setting the bail amount. As a result, the judge considers several factors in determining a suitable amount guided by various factors. Among these influential elements are:
Whether you Have A Prior Criminal Record
Like most criminal procedures, a bail hearing outcome is greatly influenced by your criminal record. Most arrested suspects with a criminal history risk facing harsher restrictions regarding the bail amount. This arises from the common perception that repeat offenders have not reformed. You risk facing an even more disadvantageous position by repeating the same offense compared to different violations.
For example, being a repeat DUI offender can easily amount to felony charges. The circumstances may differ from a repeat offender charged with petty theft and reckless driving on different occasions. Thus, you want to seek the required guidance before your hearing to promote the chances of a better outcome.
The Nature of Your Offense
Additionally, the judge assesses the severity of your criminal offense before determining your bail outcome. This may often include granting or denying release on bail. On top of this, the type of offense committed could lead to high bail amounts that are not adjustable. Due to the effect of various offenses on the outcome, you want to request additional information while still in jail. For example, you can determine if the charged crime falls within capital offenses, where chances of release on bail are minimal.
If you Pose a Significant Risk to the Public's Safety
Further, the judge is keen on protecting the general public by upholding peace. If you are arrested based on allegations involving security threats, you are more likely to receive a high bail amount. In some cases, the judge may also deny bail and direct you to await trial behind bars.
The outcome is common if specific community members or individuals successfully raise concerns regarding your past conduct. Releasing you to reintegrate with your community under the scenario would be unconventional based on the potential community unrest. Therefore, you can expect a high bail amount, as it is meant to reduce your chances of exiting jail.
Whether You are a Flight Risk
The court may declare you a flight risk if you are likely to escape the country. Arrested suspects often take off to avoid dealing with the legal repercussions of their activities. While federal orders may be released to recapture them for trial, the process may take longer. Courts will avoid dealing with these delays by determining if a suspect is a flight risk. Upon declaring you one, the judge may deny you bail altogether or place it at an extremely expensive rate. Nonetheless, working with a Fort Worth bond dealer can help you exit jail by raising the full required amount.
If You Have a Restraining Order Against You
Restraining orders are court-issued documents directing you to stay away from the applicant's physical environment. It provides specific instructions regarding the distance you should maintain at any time when the applicant is likely to be in an identified location.
Due to the prohibitive nature of a restraining order, an arrested suspect will have a hard time convincing the judge to grant bail. For example, if you are arrested for domestic violence involving your roommate, releasing you would lead to easy violation of the restraining orders. This is especially the case if you lack anywhere else to go.
Chargeable Fees for Using a Fort Worth Bail Bonds Service
A bail bonds agent will engage in the best practice methods to secure your timely jail release. The undertaken procedures may include calling third parties to inquire about your details, incur transactional costs, and communicate with the court clerks. Throughout these operations, your interests are always the priority to promote a fair trial process.
After your release from jail, you will receive a service invoice for the bail bond procedures conducted on your behalf. Based on regulations and standard practice, a bail bonds company should charge between ten to twenty percent of the total bail amount raised. Hence, your final service fee varies depending on the amount that the judge sets. However, you should note that the percentage fees remain constant regardless of low or high bail payments.
Instances Where Bail is Denied
As mentioned, a presiding judge may deny you the chance to exit jail on bail based on several reasons. Among these include committing specific offenses listed as capital crimes in Texas. Capital murder remains the main capital offense in the state, meaning that any offender will spend additional time behind bars.
The prevailing laws impose harsh conditions for suspects involved in capital offenses based on the severity of the crime. Furthermore, releasing a murder suspect may endanger other citizens’ lives if the person continues with the offenses. Although you may have contacted a Fort Worth bail bonds agent after arrest, they may not provide the required assistance because no bail allowances are available for the charged crime.
Consequences of Failure to Appear in Court
Ideally, you should follow the court directives to appear for subsequent hearings and mentions. Although the judge may only require your attorney in some instances, you should attend all mandatory court proceedings to avoid repercussions. As mentioned, bail or bond payments are made to secure your release and court appearance. Therefore, violating the judge's directives is considered a serious offense that also creates inconveniencing outcomes for you.
Firstly, failure to appear amounts to a forfeiture of your bail or bond amount. This means that the court will retain your money even if you make efforts to appear in other court proceedings. If you paid the bail or bond amount upfront, this would lead to excessive losses because you lost your full amount.
Additionally, your Fort Worth bail bondsman may also incur losses from your non-appearance in court. Since the service posts bail on your behalf, they invest the required amount on your behalf. Your actions, therefore, have a direct impact on their business, leading to a complete loss of the bail amount.
After the bail bondsman loses the amount to the court, you will need to reimburse the company for its services. Most clients are conscious of the outcome and are willing to make amends. On the other hand, some clients may delay or refuse to reimburse the company, leading to a legal suit. The proceedings are often long and expensive for you, as you may have to hire a lawyer. On top of this, chances of succeeding in the claim are slim if the bail bonds company presents a valid case. Consequently, you will incur more costs compared to paying the reimbursement fee within the stipulated guidelines.
The Bench Arrest Warrant
Following non-compliance with court directives to appear before the judge, he/she may issue a bench warrant. This directive is reserved for extreme conditions where the suspect displays consistent defiance. Upon the circulation of the warrant, any qualified law enforcement officer can apprehend you and detain you until further notice.
Since the bench warrant is supposed to enforce the suspect's cooperation in the trial process, you will not be released. Subsequently, you will attend all court mentions and appearances while behind bars. The consequences can be disadvantageous, particularly when the trial runs for a long time. For example, a fraud charge involves in-depth investigations that result in months or years of trial. You risk spending the duration in jail because of previous non-appearances.
The Booking Process in Jail After Arrest
After law enforcement officers apprehend you and transport you to the nearest station, they will need to conduct a booking process. This procedure helps them obtain vital details for your identification and record-keeping. Generally, the booking process takes a few minutes to complete if all equipment is ready for use.
The law enforcement officers handling booking should instruct you accordingly to avoid errors or oversights. Any inconsistent information may cause delays in subsequent procedures like court arraignments. Hence, you also want to pay attention as your details are recorded to minimize errors. The information captured in jail includes:
- Your official name
- Your physical address
- Your contact details, including your phone number and email address
- Details on your next of kin
- Your fingerprints
- Mugshot images
- Bank and employment details
Additionally, the officer conducting the booking process may check your record online. If you have a criminal history, the details will be recorded and used in court to determine several aspects. Upon concluding the procedures, your details are saved in the station's database and can be retrieved at any time.
Important Court Details to Remember
Making a court appearance after a criminal arrest is inevitable. Your first session will be for your bail hearing that you should attend. The presiding judge determines whether you will be released on bail and determines the amount to issue each suspect. Since representing yourself may not always be ideal, you may decide to work with a criminal attorney. They play a pivotal role in the hearing by representing your position accurately.
During the bail hearing, several issues are discussed. The most important aspect of establishing is that you faced charges and that the arraignment took place within 24 hours of arrest.
Your representative may also request a bail amount reduction, but you are not guaranteed a successful outcome. Nonetheless, presenting your position credibly may persuade the judge to reduce the amount for your benefit. Several factors that may influence a bail reduction are:
Facing a Delay Before Court Arraignment
Usually, an arrested suspect should be arraigned in court within 24 hours from the arrest. This requirement aims at promoting a fair hearing, which includes timely court procedures. However, since court processes are directed through various departments, some overlaps may occur, leading to inevitable delays. Subsequently, you may spend more time in jail than anticipated, creating inconveniences in your life.
As a result, your lawyer may present the position before a judge as a mitigating factor. In most cases, the judge will allow a bail amount reduction based on these delays, making it easier for you to secure release.
Engagement in Minor Offenses
Sometimes, the offense you allegedly committed may be minor, meaning that the set bail amount is adjustable. Despite this, some judges may choose to follow the bail amount schedule strictly. They may do this to avoid creating unpredictable case outcomes that could cause challenges with time. Therefore, you should present your plight using persuasive arguments for the best chances of success.
Providing Proof of Financial Constraints
In extreme cases, you could also convince the judge to lower the bail amount due to significant financial constraints. Although the judge may refer you to alternative solutions like working with a bond dealer, some cases are successful. If you have committed a minor offense and would like to present this argument, you can present your position during the bail hearing with valid justifications.
You should note that even though the judge declined to reduce your bail amount, your bail bondsman is ready to provide the necessary services. Consulting your Fort Worth bail bonds service is a great way to avoid the challenges involved in posting bail by yourself.
Jail and Court Information in Fort Worth
For further inquiries and guidance, you can contact the following departments:
Superior Court Information
100 E. Weatherford Street,
Fort Worth, TX 76196, United States.
Sheriff Center
100 N. Lamar Street,
Fort Worth, TX 76196, United States.
Jail Information
Cold Springs Jail
1815 Cold Springs Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76106.
Lon Evans Jail
600 W. Weatherford Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76196.
Tarrant County Jail
100 N. Lamar Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76196.
Greenbay Facility
2500 Urban Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76106.
Find a Bail Bondsman Near Me
After arrest, you could spend more time in jail due to inadequate preparations and funds to post bail. After the booking process, you want to contact a bail bonds agent as soon as possible. They will work on the necessary procedures to post the bail amount to the court clerk for your release.
Working with 24 Hour Online Bail Bond will see you secure your freedom shortly after detention. Our team is dedicated to providing reliable solutions, including posting bail on your behalf. You can expect service efficiency, thanks to the many years of practice in the field. Moreover, the team understands the importance of maintaining an open communication line. If you or your loved one needs bail bond services in Fort Worth, Texas, contact us today at 512-890-1903