Quote:
Originally posted by yournamehere
That's how bail bondsmen make their money - it's a 10% <b>fee</b> for them putting up the full bail amount.
Example:
Your bail is set at $2000
You give bondsman 10% - $200
He gives the court a bond in the amount of $2000 i.e. he promises to pay that much if you don't show up for court.
When you show up for court, the court relinquishes the bond.
Bondsman puts his $200 (previously your $200) into his bank account.
So you paid him $200 to post your bail - you don't get it back
Yes - 10% is an awfully high interest rate for "loaning" you the money, but let's not forget that bail bondsmen's customers are not exactly the most trustworthy bunch of individuals.
That's why there are bounty hunters - they work for the bond companies to round up the "no-shows."
Er . . . or so I've heard.
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Not necessarily. The 10% option is set by the court. They may set your bail at $30k and give you the 10% option meaning you will put up $3k. Dealings with a bail bondsmen are completely separate. The bondsman charges you a lot and depending on the amount requires some sort of security for it.
Bail is all about flight risk. It's up to the judge really to set bail. Both sides (defense and prosecution) get to present arguments for or against bail. Ties to the community, substantial holdings in the community, seriousness of the crime, previous criminal convictions, danger to the community, etc are all factors in whether bail will be allowed, in what amount, and if there is a ten percent option.