Your Top 3 Indiana Bail Bond Questions Answered Here

Posted on April 29, 2021 by admin

If you are ever faced with a legal situation that requires you to bail a friend or yourself from jail, it is important to have a basic understanding of what to expect. Bailing a friend or loved one out of jail can be frustrating and stressful if you are not prepared. So before making that call to your local bail agent to turn yourself in on an outstanding arrest warrant, check out these frequently asked questions about bail bonds first. It will help you turn yourself in, or get someone else out of jail more efficiently.

Continue below to review the true answers to your top 3 Indiana bail bonds questions.

Indiana Bail Bond Q’s & A’s

How Much Does a Bail Bond Cost in Indiana?

This is one of the first questions a person asks when they need bail services. This fact is not surprising, considering it is a huge influence on whether or not bail is an option for someone. Currently in the state of Indiana, bail bond agencies are allowed to charge 10 to 15 percent of the total bond amount assigned by the court to the defendant. If a person were arrested on a minor drug possession charge, their bond could be set at around 5,000 dollars. This is just an example and not accurate. Bond amounts are calculated by examining a person’s criminal history, flight risk, and other variables.

It is different for everyone. Hypothetically, if a person’s bond were five thousand dollars, a bail agent charging ten percent would require a fee of 500 dollars. This ten or fifteen percent fee is not refundable, but it allows a person to get out of jail before their scheduled court hearing without having to pay the entire 5,000 dollars fine. If they fail to appear for court, they forfeit the rest of the bond amount and a warrant is issued for their arrest. At that point, they are a repeat offender and may have trouble gaining bail for a second time. This leads into the next question.

Can a Bail Bondsmen Refuse Their Service? Will They?

The answer to this dual question is yes, both ways. Bail bond agents are a separate business, and can refuse their services to anyone, just as any other privately owned business can. The reason a bail bond company may refuse service to a person is mostly based on their likelihood to flee and not appear for their scheduled court hearings. On top of that, they take into consideration past criminal records and charges, just as the court does when they set a bond amount. If a person seems like a risky client, they will refuse service in order to protect themselves.

Can I Post My Own Bail With a Bail Bond?

Once you are arrested, you are taken to the nearest county jail and processed. Depending on the charges and individual situation, processing entails breathalyzer tests, paper work, finger printing, body searches, mug shot picture, and medical checks. Once this is complete, you will remain in the jail processing center until your scheduled court date or until you post bail. You can post your own bond by calling a local bail bonds agency directly from jail, or you can have a loved one sign your bail bond agreement and post your bail for you. Keep in mind that whoever signs for your bail bond is legally responsible for paying back the FULL bail amount if you do not appear for court. The same goes for you if you post your own bail, or post bail for someone else.

Do you need to surrender to an arrest warrant or get someone out of jail? Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 for the fastest and friendliest bail bond services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Request a free estimate or information, anytime.

You Should Also Read:

Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer to Get Out of Jail?
How Do I Begin My Arrest Warrant Surrender in Marion County Indiana?
Posting Bail on Your Own is Possible

What You Might Not Know About the Bail Bond Industry

Posted on June 17, 2020 by admin

It isn’t really common to do any type of research about bail bonds unless a person is actually in need of one. When put in a stressful situation, such as having the responsibility of bailing someone out of jail, or even surrendering to an arrest warrant yourself, the obligation to learn the facts about the industry can overwhelm even the calmest person. However, this proactive approach is also very wise, and helpful. Although you can find endless information regarding the basics of the bail bond industry, there are many facts that are more difficult to come by.

Continue reading to learn what you might not know, or discover, about bail bonds, that will help you get yourself or a loved one out of jail, faster.

Bail is Not Always an Option

Not all judges grant a person bail after an arrest. For instance, some crimes are not eligible for bail, such as murder. Also, someone who has attempted to flee or evade law enforcement, or escape from prison, might be denied bail privileges. See our blog, “When a Judge Might Deny Your Bail” to learn reasons why a person might not be given the option to post their bail with a bail bond.

Bail Bonds Require a Co-Signer

If you are bailing someone out of jail using a bail bond, you will be required to sign a contract that holds you liable for their full bail amount if they violate any part of the bail bond agreement. So, if you sign the agreement, and then the person fails to show up for court, not only do you not get a refund on the price of the bail bond service, you are legally mandated to pay the courts the FULL bail amount, which is usually in the high thousands. If you are surrendering to an arrest warrant, you will need to have a co-signer to ensure you show up for court.

There is an Amendment About Bail

The 8^th Amendment of the Unites States Constitution decrees that every citizen is protected against excessive and unfair bail. So, even though a judge has the discretion to deny bail, they cannot set a person’s bail excessively high, nor impose any cruel and unusual punishments. See our blog, “Which Amendment Has To Do With Bail?” to learn more about this right.

Bail Amounts are Pre-Set

Judges have the discretion to deny bail, and they are prohibited by law to set bail excessively, but in most cases, judges do not set the bail amounts. Most states have bail schedules with predetermined bond amounts for certain categories of crimes. For instance, shoplifting might come with an automatic bail schedule of $1000, while domestic violence might have a $10,000 bond or more. The more serious the crime, the higher the bond amount set by the judge.

Call Woods Bail Bonds of Central Indiana to Get Out of Jail

Contact Woods Bail Bonds at 317-876-9600 if you or a loved one needs bailed out of jail anywhere in Northern, Central, and Southern Indiana. Right now, we are offering Indianapolis bail bonds as low as 8% for those who qualify. Our offices operate on a 24 hour basis, 7 days a week and 365 days a year, and in over 30 Indiana counties. There is never a time that we don’t have a licensed bail agent standing by to take your call. Get started with a free quote and jail information, today.

FAQS About the Cost of Bail

Posted on April 19, 2018 by admin

The most common and affordable method to get a friend or loved one out of jail is to use a professional bail bond company. And although affordable, bail bonds are not cheap. So it can be very stressful for a person to be given the duty of collecting a large amount of money for such a serious need, unexpectedly. In addition to bills, mortgages, credit card debt, gas prices, and child expenses, it can seem near impossible. To help those in need of bail or bail money, it is wise to learn what you can about bail prices and procedures.

Continue reading to review some frequently asked questions about the cost of bail, where to find money for bail, and more.

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Where Can I Get Money for Bail?

When you are having trouble coming up with the money to bail someone out of jail, you have some emergency cash options. An easy way to get bail money is to pick up some extra hours at work by trading shifts, picking up shifts, or asking for overtime. If you cannot pick up additional shifts, you have the option of selling old clothes and belongings in a yard sale, online, or at a local consignment shop. You can also visit a local cash loan store. Most times, this type of borrowing is not recommended for regular use because you can wind up in a never-ending loop of paying and borrowing. However, these stores can be very beneficial to someone that needs an emergency cash loan right away.

How is Bail Set?

For most jurisdictions around the country, bail schedules are used to help set bail amounts. These are assigned bail amounts for specific types of crimes. For instance, the crime of shoplifting a pair of sunglasses from the convenient store may have a bail amount set at $1,000, while a drunk driving charge may start at $5,000 bail. Bail schedules differ from state to state, and sometimes even county to county. Furthermore, Judges have the discretion of setting a person’s bail amount, whether that means setting it high, setting it low, or granting no bail requirement at all.

What Influences the Set Bail Amount?

The purpose of setting a bail amount is to obligate and encourage offenders to appear for their court heating after being released from custody. They should be high enough to make offenders want to appear for court, but not so high that they are incredibly unreasonable. The most common factors that influence bail amounts include a defendant’s criminal history, severity of crime, the likelihood of fleeing, financial resources, and the risk they pose to themselves and others.

Is the Cost of Bail Higher for Felony Charges?

Bond amounts are set by judges who consider various factors before deciding on an amount, like the defendant’s criminal history, the severity of their crime, and whether or not they are a flight risk. So in short, the answer to this question is, “probably.” The cost of bail is almost always affected by the severity of criminal charges.

What Can I Do if I Cannot Afford to Hire a Bail Bondsman?

When you cannot hire a bail bonds agency for whatever reason, there are some other options to raising money to pay for bail in Indiana. Some options include borrowing money from friends or family, borrowing money from Cash Advance businesses, taking out property liens, selling items to pawn shops, and looking for a second job.

Where Can I Get the Best Price for Bail in Indiana?

Indianapolis Bail Bonds 317-876-9600

Right now, Woods Bail Bonds is currently offering 8% bail bonds! This is the lowest rate in years, and only available here! That means you only pay 8% of your total bond amount, rather than the standard 10 to 15% rates required across the state. In order to qualify for this low rate, you must meet certain criteria. Call 317-876-9600 to talk to a friendly and knowledgeable Indianapolis bail bondsman to learn if you can qualify for 8% bail bonds in Indiana!