How Do Bail Bonds Work?

Learning that a loved one has been arrested can be a difficult experience, but getting a friend or family member out of jail quickly and inexpensively need not be a complicated ordeal. At Cecil C. Armstrong Bail Bonds, our professional and experienced bail bondsmen are available 24/7 to walk you through the bail bond process, step-by-step, and answer any questions you may have regarding the types of bonds available, a defendant’s inalienable rights, the responsibilities of the indemnitor, and what factors influence the cost of bail.

The Bail Bond Process

Step 1: Contact Us

After a friend or family member has been arrested, the court will “process” the defendant and, in most cases, set the amount of bail needed to grant his or her release. If you are unable to post cash bail—that is, to pay the full bail amount yourself—you should contact a trusted bail bond agency like Cecil C. Armstrong Bail Bonds right away. We will begin the bond application process immediately to ensure your loved is released as soon as possible.

Step 2: Application

 During the initial phone consultation, our friendly bail bondsman will answer any questions you may have and collect information regarding your financial situation, assets, and collateral (if needed). To ensure your friend or family member doesn’t stay in jail longer than absolutely necessary, Cecil C. Armstrong Bail Bonds offers several ways to expedite the bail bond application process, including online application forms and flexible payment plans.

Step 3: Release

 After your bail bond application has been approved and the cash, check, money order, or credit card payment has been received, Cecil C. Armstrong Bail Bonds will post bail to the jail where your friend or family member is being held in custody. Though posting bail should result in a prompt release, Armstrong Bail Bonds will also send one of our licensed bail agents to the jail to ensure your loved one is released without delay, should the need arise.

How Long Does the Bail Process Take?

 

 While Cecil C. Armstrong Bail Bonds will always post bail immediately after payment is received, we cannot always control the jail system or know exactly how long the bail bond process will take. Because the booking process—taking photographs, fingerprinting, and checking for outstanding warrants, parole holds, or immigration holds—must be complete before the defendant is “cleared for bail,” actual release time may depend on a variety of factors:

  • The Defendant’s Previous Arrest Record
  • The Defendant’s Citizenship Status
  • How Many Arrests The Jail Is Currently Processing
  • The Number of Staff Members Working at the Jail
  • How Long It Takes To Process Paperwork & Payments
  • How Long The Bond Underwriting Process Takes

How To Expedite The Bail Bond Process

 

To make sure your friend or family member is released from jail as soon as possible, Cecil C. Armstrong Bail Bonds recommends gathering as much information about the defendant as possible, including the full name of the arrested person, your relationship to the arrested person, the date they arrested, where they committed the crime, the booking number and charges, and the jail where they are being held. If you are unsure about the crime, booking number, or where the defendant is being held, we can help you locate your friend or relative. At Armstrong, we know how the court system works; let our professional, experienced bail bondsmen negotiate the release of your loved one with speed and at less cost to you!

Know Your Indemnitor Responsibilities

 

If you purchase a bail bond for a friend or relative, you inherit the title and responsibilities of indemnitor. To avoid future complications, Armstrong strongly encourages each indemnitor to read their contract thoroughly and understand what both the bail bondsman and the courts expect of them.

The Indemnitor Must:

  • Be Truthful About Their Relationship With The Defendant
  • Be Honest About Your Financial Situation
  • Be Responsible For Making Sure The Defendant Appears in Court
  • Notify Cecil C. Armstrong Bail Bonds If Address or Phone Number Changes
  • Know The Risk Inherent in Becoming an Indemnitor

For more information on the bail bond process, contact Cecil C. Bail Armstrong Bail Bonds today!

Bail A Loved One Out Of Jail In California. (844) 513-1880