2006-12-27 05:25:21 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
You deposit money with the police to ensure that the suspect does not skip town. If they do, then you lose your money. If they don't, you recollect your money after their sentencing or acquittal.
2006-12-27 05:28:19 · answer #1 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The answers here are all pretty close. I speak from my knowledge of California law. If you post cash bail, then you are giving the court or police an amount of money intended to assure the person's appearance in court as required. If the person does not appear, that money is forfeited. If he appears, when the case is over the money is returned to you (less a small fee).
You can also post property in lieu of cash, which generally has to be valued at twice the amount of the amount of bail. This is a long, involved process. If the person fails to appear, there is a lein against the property.
You can buy a bail bond. These generally cost about 10% of the amount of the bail, though this is usually negotiable. The bondsman then promises to pay the full amount if the person fails to appear. The bondsman does not take this loss, however, since the bondsman is going to go after you for the entire bail amount. Usually, but not always, the bondsman is going to require some sort of surety which he can seize to pay that debt (a car or house, for example).
There are procedures for setting aside a bail forfeiture, however, if the person posting the bail had nothing to do with the failure of the defendant to appear, although even then there is going to be some cost.
As you can see, posting bail for somebody is a pretty risky business. I would not advise it unless this is somebody you trust completely, or you are willing to risk the loss of the money you provide.
2006-12-27 09:32:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bail is a promise that a Defendant will return to court.
It involves gambling that an accused criminal will face his day in court.
A bail bondsman is any person or corporation which will act as a surety and pledge money or property as bail for the appearance of a criminal defendant in court. Although banks, insurance companies and other similar institutions are usually the sureties on other types of contracts, for example, to bond a contractor who is under a contractual obligation to pay for the completion of a construction project, such entities are reluctant to put their depositors' or policyholders' funds at the kind of risk involved in posting a bail bond. Bail bondsmen, on the other hand, are usually in the business to cater exclusively to criminal defendants, often securing their customers' release in just a few hour
2006-12-27 05:30:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You pay the money for them to get out, but you sign a paper stating that if they do not go to court then you will pay the rest of the money. Usually bail is set at 10%. (in Michigan) So you agree to pay the other 90% or what is owed.
2006-12-27 10:53:03 · answer #4 · answered by RoxieC 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Phonex has it pretty well covered---however you can also place your house up for bail or get a bail bondsman==the bondsman will charge a fee==if you place monies--house--and the person on bail does not show up for court date then there is a great possibility you are going to lose what you put up ==good luck
2006-12-27 05:31:20 · answer #5 · answered by willtdn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
generally, if the bail is 100,000, you put up 10% cash, or, 10,000..if the person doesn't show up for court, you forfeit the 10,000, period..the bail company is out 90,000..thats why they go after these guys..
2006-12-27 05:29:30 · answer #6 · answered by jstrmbill 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it means that who ever you put the money up for better show for court or you loose your money.
2006-12-27 05:35:39 · answer #7 · answered by bungee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
PHOENIX HAS IT RIGHT
2006-12-27 05:29:11 · answer #8 · answered by strike_eagle29 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋