College students who have been arrested usually do not use their first phone call to contact their parents. They typically look for help outside of their families in an effort to avoid punishment or criticism. Unfortunately, this does not always work out, making mom and dad the most viable option for getting out of jail. If your college student was just arrested, continue reading to learn some important tips you need to know.
So why does a phone call to a friend or roommate hardly work out for the average college student?
Most people in this age group do not have the funds to sufficiently support the bond premium of a defendant. As a result, many bail bond companies prefer to work with families of the arrested, rather than their friends or roommates. Although college friends and roommates are only trying to help, they do not have enough money, assets, or income to payback the entire bail premium in the case that the defendant does not adhere to all court orders and appear for all scheduled hearings.
All of these stipulations and liabilities are clearly laid out in the bail bond agreement, which is the contract that must be signed in order to obtain a bail bond from a bail bond company. A bail bond agreement is a legally-binding contract that comes with a very serious responsibility, so it is vital that you have a full understanding of the terms and conditions before signing it for someone else.
Why Family Over Friends?
The most reputable bail bond companies prefer to work with relatives and family for many reasons. Foremost, because they are more likely to have the sufficient funds; but also because they are more likely to get involved on a serious level. Families tend to have more of a personal interest in supporting their loved one throughout the legal process, which helps ensure that all court orders are followed, and that they show up to all scheduled court hearings, on time. This includes mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, Godparents, and siblings.
Out of Town Bail Bonds
Many parents worry about the bail bond process since their child goes to school in another city or state, but distance is not an issue in the bail bond industry. Not only are there local bail agents all over every county, most companies offer their services via phone, email, and fax. Furthermore, many companies also offer pick up and drop off services from the jail and to their office, which means there will be a real person waiting for your child when they walk out of the county jail.