An arrest for committing a crime in Texas will land you in a jail cell. Fortunately, you can secure a release from jail with a pending case by posting bail. Bail is a contract between a defendant and the court and ensures that the defendant will return to court for trial. Many people are forced to remain in jail awaiting trial owing to a lack of money to post bail.
If you cannot afford to post cash bail, you can use a bail bond by enlisting the services of a bail bond company. Using a bail bond reduces the financial responsibility you have to shoulder when you secure your loved one's release from jail. At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, we understand the challenge you face seeing your loved one rot in jail, and we will provide the financial assistance and expert guidance you need to navigate the bail process. We serve clients requiring bail bonds services in Leander, TX.
Overview of Bail in Leander, Texas
Bail is the amount of money a criminal defendant must post with the court to secure a release from jail with a pending trial. After an arrest in Leander, you will be taken to a police station and be booked into a jail cell. If you post bail, you can be raised and go home to your family as you wait for your trial date. However, failure to post bail will see you remain in the jail cell. In Texas, bail ensures that a defendant will make all the necessary future court appearances. The judge sets your bail at your first court appearance, and you can pay in the following ways:
Cash Bail
If you have the amount of money required for bail, posting cash bail is the easiest way to secure a release from jail. When you opt to post bail in cash, you must present the total amount to the court before the release. Payment if bail is not a punishment for your crimes. Therefore, you can recover the total amount when you appear in court, and your case ends.
Property Bond
If you do not have enough money to post cash bail, you can use property to assure that the defendant will return to court for trial. When you use the property for a bond, the court puts a lien on the property and can only lift it when the case ends.
Bail Bond
Bail bonds are the most common way to post your bail, especially when facing serious charges. Severe offenses attract high bail requirements, and the amount may be too high to raise on short notice. If you cannot afford cash bail, you can contact a bail bond company. The company will send a bail bond agent to post bail for your loved one and guide you through the bail process.
As a fee for their bail bod services, the bail bond company will charge you a premium fee that ranges from 10-20% of the total bail amount. Additionally, the bail bond agent may require you to present collateral for the bail bond. If the defendant shows up for the trial and obeys the bail conditions, the company will recover their money. However, skipping bail will result in bail forfeiture and loss of the bail bond money to the court.
Bond Conditions in Leander, Texas
Bond positions are requirements imposed by the court for the defendant's pre-trial release to follow until their case is resolved. The judge will impose some conditions on your release, whether you are released on a personal, cash, or bail bond. The judge conveys these conditions to a criminal defendant by signing a court order. Bond conditions are aimed at striking a balance between e ensuring that the defeat appears for the trial while enjoying the privilege of being free while their trial is pending.
In Texas, bond conditions are zero tolerance, and a defendant who fails to obey those risks returning to jail. The court uses different methods to monitor your adherence to the bond conditions. If you use a bail bond to secure a release from jail in Leander, your bail bond agent will be responsible for ensuring that you do not violate the conditions.
Several factors influence the bond conditions set during your bond hearing, including:
- The severity of your crimes. Bond conditions tend to be more severe for defendants facing serious crimes such as homicide, sexual assault, and aggravated assault.
- Your criminal history. When judges formulate your bail conditions, they will consider your criminal record. The requirement to obey the bail conditions is viewed as a court order. Therefore, if you have a history of failing to appear in court, your conditions will be more stringent. A defendant with no criminal record is likely to receive a bond with fewer and less strict conditions.
- Safety of other people in the community. During a release on bond, the court will consider whether a defendant poses a danger to the community. Also, your likelihood of repeating your crimes is critical in determining your bail conditions.
- Your employment status. A permanently employed defendant and actively supervised is likely to receive less strict bond conditions.
Bond conditions vary widely depending on the nature of your charges. Common bond conditions include:
- Travel restrictions. If you are released on bond in Texas, the court orders that you remain in the State until your case is resolved. This will help reduce the chances of fleeing to avoid the consequences of your crimes.
- Avoid drug and alcohol consumption. The court ensures that you avoid drug use by carrying out random tests. If you test positive for drugs or alcohol, the court could revoke your bond and have you taken back to jail. The court prohibits the use of mouthwash and other products that could bring false-positive results for intoxication. Therefore, you will not have a defense if your test positive for the drugs.
- Maintain stable employment. While out on bond, the court requires you to find and maintain meaningful work. This could help keep you in the State while waiting for your trial.
- Report regularly to a probation officer. If you are released on bond, you will need to regularly check in with a probation officer and report and address changes.
- Issuance of a protective order. If you are charged with crimes like domestic violence or assault and the court grants your bond, the judge may issue a restraining order requiring you to stay away from the victims.
Benefits of Hiring a Leander Bail Bondsman
The following are some of the benefits you accrue from hiring a bail bonds agent to help you secure your loved ones release from jail:
- Avoid financial scrutiny. Posting a high bail amount in cash could open the door for financial scrutiny. If the prosecutor or the judge suspects that the bail money was obtained from criminal activity, the bail proceedings will be delayed to investigate the source of the funds. This could mean that your loved one will spend more time in jail. When you hire a bail bonds agent, they will provide the amount required to post bail and help avoid unnecessary suspicions.
- Quick-release from jail. Sometimes, the money required to post bail is not available for you and your loved one. Before you come up with the amount, the defendant will have spent unnecessary time behind bars. Bail bond companies have the financial capacity to post your bond immediately you contact them and ensure a quick release.
- Gives you peace of mind. The bail bond agent shoulders the stress of settling bail with the court. Your only role will be to provide the defendant's name and the location of the jail where they are held. After that, you can sit and wait for the release of your loved one.
- Saves on cost. Bail amounts in Texas are often very high. When you enlist the services of a bail bonds agent, you will only be responsible for a portion of the bail amount, which acts as a fee for the bail bond services.
Denial of Bail
In Texas, most criminal defendants are entitled to bail. As long as you can raise the amount required by the court, you can enjoy your freedom while awaiting trial. However, some circumstances allow a judge you deny bail. If your bail is rejected, you will have to remain in the jail cell until your case ends. Some of the common reasons for bail denial include:
- You face charges for capital murder. If you face charges for first-degree murder and your sentence is likely to be life imprisonment or death, the judge will deny your bail. A person facing murder charges is considered a high flight risk. This is because they will have nothing to lose by fleeing.
- You are charged with committing a sex crime against a minor under fourteen years. If you face charges for a sex crime against a child and you are considered a threat to their safety, you are likely to be held without bail.
- You were charged with a felony offense while out on bail for a previous crime. One of the bail conditions is to avoid criminal activity while out on bail. Therefore, if you have a history of violating the bail conditions, the judge may deny your bail.
- You are a repeat offender. If you face charges for a felony and have two prior felony convictions on your record, the judge may deny your bail.
Bond Revocation in Texas
When you face an arrest and charges for a criminal offense in Texas, the court could grant you bond. However, the bond comes with specific conditions with which you have to comply. Violation of the bond conditions will result in a revocation. A bond revocation is a legal proceeding that changes the court order to release you on bail. If the court revokes your bond, you will have to jail until your trial date.
At a bond revocation hearing, the state attorney will present evidence to support their claim that you violated the bail conditions. Also, you will have an opportunity to defend yourself against the allegations. You can directly argue that you did not violate the conditions or give a reasonable explanation to justify your actions. At the end of the bond revocation hearing, the judge can either modify your bail conditions, revoke your bond or allow you to continue with the original conditions.
Bail Forfeiture
A bail forfeiture occurs when a defendant fails to fulfill the bail conditions or fails to appear for the trial. Bail forfeiture can also happen in civil cases when you fail to meet the obligations established by the court. If you posted cash bail, you would lose the amount you used. However, if you post a bail bond and forfeits the bond, the bail bond company will shoulder the financial loss.
A bond forfeiture could be based on your Leander bail bondsman filing a motion to be released as the surety for your bond. Often, this occurs when a defendant fails to live up to the agreement they made with the bail bondsman. When you seek a bail bond for you or a loved one, you will need to stay in contact with the bail bond company. Also, you will be required to pay your premiums.
If you fail to fulfill the bail bond requirements, the bail bondsman could withdraw the money they posted for your bail. When the bail bond company withdraws its responsibility towards you, the court will issue a warrant for your arrest.
If you face an arrest in Leander, TX, you could be held at:
Leander Police Department
Courts Serving Leander TX includes:
Leander Municipal Court
Cedar Park Municipal Court
Find a Reliable Bail Bond Company Near Me
Learning of your loved one's arrest can be a challenging experience. The situation becomes more traumatizing when you are the person sitting behind bars. Given the conditions in jails, your first thought alter learning that your loved one was arrested is how to secure their release as fast as possible. After an arrest, you do not have to remain in jail. You can post bail and walk free as you wait for your trial.
Unfortunately, many defendants cannot afford the high bond amounts. If you wish to secure a quick release for a defendant, it would be wise to post a bail bond. Bail bond companies provide the financial assistance required to post bail at an affordable fee. At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, we offer financial aid for all our clients requiring bail bonds in Leander, TX. Contact our bail bond agents today at 512-890-1903 to discuss your situation.