Cash Bail vs. a Bail Bond for California Families
Understanding Cash Bail
In California when someone is arrested they may have the opportunity to return to their home and family before their trial. There are many ways this can happen. One way is for the defendant to pay the full amount of bail for their release from jail. This money is held by the court until the defendant’s court appearance. At that time the money is returned to the party who paid it, if the defendant attended all required court appearances.
What is a Bail Bond?
In contrast, a bail bond is a financial agreement with a bail bondsman where he or she posts the defendant’s bail for them in exchange for a non-refundable fee which is typically a percentage of the total amount of bail that is required for their release from jail. The fee is usually collected by the family of the arrested person and paid to the bail bondsman before the bondsman can post the defendant’s bail and release them from jail.
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Pros and Cons of Cash Bail
One advantage of choosing cash bail is that it allows those who have enough cash to pay for bail to go home while awaiting trial. They will have their money returned to them should they appear for all of their scheduled court dates. But for many families, the cash required for bail is not readily available and can cause a lot of financial hardship for those who do have to pay for it especially if the bail amount is extremely high.
Pros and Cons of Bail Bonds
A bail bond will typically cost the family of the defendant only a small percentage of the amount of bail to be released by the time the bail bondsman’s office has completed all of the necessary paperwork to post the defendant’s bail. The disadvantages of a bail bond are that the fees paid to the bail bondsman are non-refundable, and there is a greater chance that the family and the bail bondsman will incur further financial loss if the defendant fails to appear in court on the scheduled date and time.
Making the Right Choice
Whether choosing cash bail or a bail bond, the circumstances of a family can play a major factor in choosing which route to take. A family in need of a fast release may find that a bail bond serves best, and can find bail help from a company such as Balboa Bail Bonds. It is best for families to know all of their options when deciding between cash bail and a bail bond.
Conclusion
Deciding on the best option for a family and their financial situation can be a very difficult choice. In California cash bail and bail bonds are two of the most commonly used options to release a loved one from jail. To better assist families and their financial needs, it is very important that families fully understand the two options.
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