After being accused of a crime, defendants must either wait for their court date in jail or meet certain bail bond requirements so they can be granted freedom while they wait. There are different types of bail bonds available depending on the nature of the crime, and the financial situation of the defendant. Keep reading to learn about the most common types of bail bonds that a judge will grant to a defendant who is awaiting trial.
Cash Bond
Cash bonds require that the defendant, or someone willing to pay on their behalf, pays the bail in full using cash. If the defendant has the financial means to pursue this type of bond, it is the most recommended option since there are no extra fees—the entire bond payment will be returned once the defendant complies with the courts and appears at the required trial dates. For high-risk defendants, judges may set an extremely high bail amount so that the person in need of a bond will likely have to wait in jail until their sentencing is complete. This ensures they are not a threat to society in the interim period while awaiting their trial verdict.
Surety Bond
The most common type of bail bond is a surety bond. If a defendant is granted a surety bond because they don't have the financial means to pay for a cash bond in full, the defendant will be required to pay a bail bonds company a fee in exchange for covering the whole cost of the bond. It is very important that defendants show up for all of their required court appearances, otherwise they will be violating the contractual terms of bail and a warrant for their arrest will be issued.
Property Bonds
A unique type of bail bond is a property bond. This is where the accused person's home or vehicle is considered to be collateral payment for the bond. If a defendant chooses the property bond option, the courts can reclaim ownership of the accused's assets that are placed in the property bond, if the defendant forgets or refuses to show up for their court dates. This option should only be used if no other viable alternatives exist since it can place extreme financial hardship on a defendant if a trial appearance is missed.
Recognizance Bond
Generally reserved for defendants facing minor offenses, recognizance bonds do not require that the accused pay any money or assets to the court in return for freedom while they await trial. In these situations, the defendant must show up for their court appearances or they will be taken back into custody.
For more information, reach out to a bail bond service in your area.
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