Category Archives: White County Bail Bonds

Common Bail Bonds

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Some people are unaware that there are many different kinds of bail bonds in the legal industry. Each bail bond is used for difference circumstances, and knowing which bond you need is important. Read on to learn some of the most common bail bonds used in the judicial systems.

Property Bonds

A property bond is basically a substitute for cash in the circumstance of an arrest. When a person has been accused of a serious crime, their bond amount is going to be set at a very high number. In these circumstances, a person may not have all the available funds to post their own bail, so they turn to a property bond instead. A person actually uses the value of their property to post bail. If the person fails to complete all their court ordered obligations, including hearings, probation, fines, and community service, they will lose their property. These are generally used in felony cases.

Surety Bond

This is probably the most common bail bond used in the United States. A surety bond is your standard bail bond, where a person is arrested and posts their bail through a bail agency that uses a bail bond. The bail bond usually costs between ten and fifteen percent of the original bail amount. It differs from state to state. The price of a standard bail bond is mandated and regulated by state law, so a bail agency cannot charge more than they are permitted. There are no refunds on a surety bond. Once you pay the bail agency the ten or fifteen percent of the bond amount, you can be released from jail but will not receive that money back. If you fail to show for court hearings, the bail agency will send a bounty hunter to take you into custody.

Citation Release

A citation release is a form of bond but is not used to get out of jail. It is used for minor offenses like j-walking or double parking. A police officer will write the citation, which typically orders you to pay a fine or show up for a court hearing. You are not taken to jail, but you do have to follow up with the law to stay out of it. This is a strategy that over-populated cities use to keep the jails from becoming too crowded.

For more information on common bail bonds in Monticello, Indiana, call Justice Bail Bonds today. We are compassionate and expert bail bond agents that are happy to answer any questions you have about bail bonds in Monticello, Wolcott, Monon, White County, and Danville, IN. Call us at 574-583-6125, or visit our White County Indiana Bail Bonds website today!

Common Bail Bond Terminology

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If you or a loved one is in a situation in which you need to seek the assistance of a bail bondsman, there might be some industry “lingo” that is important to be familiar with. Knowing these related terms can help you understand the process in a more clearer sense, as well as, reduce any stress involved in gaining a release from jail. Here are the most commonly seen terms used within the everyday bail bond business. Familiarize yourself with these terms, and you are one step closer to being prepared for such a situation.

Bail

Bail is often confused with “bail bond”. They are, in fact, separate terms. Bail refers to the amount of money the court assigns to a case that will allow the defendant to be released from jail, to await their future court dates. Bail can be anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Bail amounts depend on many variables. They are determined by the defendant’s criminal history, the charges against them, and the level of flight risk they may be.

Bail Bond

A bail bond is the actual item that a person needs to obtain to be released from jail while awaiting their court dates. To be “bonded” out of jail requires the assistance of a bail bondsman or a bail agency. They will be able to make a deal with the court by guaranteeing the appearance of the defendant at their court date. If the defendant fails to appear, then the bail agency is responsible for the entire bond amount. The defendant is only required to pay a small percentage of the full bail amount to receive the services of a bail agency and be released from jail. That percent is usually between 10-15%, depending on the state.

Bounty Hunter

A bounty hunter is often mistaken for a bail bondsman, and vice versa. The truth is, a bounty hunter is NOT a bail bondsman. A bounty hunter is the accomplice, per se, of the bail bondsman. If a defendant fails to appear for their court date after being released from jail by the services of a bail bondsman, the following can happen: The courts will hold the bail bond agency responsible for the entire bond amount, usually thousands of dollars. Then they are required to FIND the defendant and bring him or her back in front of the courts to face their charges. In order to find the defendant, the bail bondsman requires the assistance of their accomplices, the bounty hunters. A bounty hunter is hired by a bail agency to act as a detective and search out the fleeing defendant. If they can produce the defendant to the courts, then the bail agency is off the hook, and the bounty hunter makes a profit.

Bail Bondsman

A bail bondsman is simply the conductor of bail bonds. They are the men, women, and companies that facilitate the process of obtaining a bail bond and gaining a release for a person in jail.

For more answers to your bail bond questions, give Justice Bail Bonds a call today at 574-583-6125. They offer 24 hour emergency service, with courteous and speedy results. Visit their Monticello, Indiana Bail Bonds website for more about their services in Indiana.

How Do Bail Bonds Work in Monticello, Indiana?

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Bail Bonds in Monticello, IN

Bail bonds are like an insurance program for violators or offenders in the criminal courts. They make sure that the criminal defendant actually appears for their scheduled court date. It is an important process, and a process that is important to understand.

The Court System and Bail Process

Bail bonds are also referred to as surety bonds. When someone has been arrested, it is usually an attorney, family member, or friend that will contact an Indiana bail bond agency. Sometimes the defendant themselves can contact a bail agency while incarcerated. During this first phone call, basic information will be asked for by the bail agent.

-Where is the arrestee being detained?
-How long has the arrestee been held?
-On what charges are they being held?
-How long have they lived in their current residence?
-Employment information
-And maybe more

This consultation allows the bail agent to assess the risk involved in the bail bond.

If the person requesting a bail bond decides to go through with the bail process, they will be asked to complete and sign Indiana Bail Bond Documents, such as:

-Bail Indemnity Agreement
-Bail Bond Application
-Receipts

Most bail bond companies in Indiana can process this paperwork by fax or email, which reduces the time line of the bail process. Also, come bail companies will actually dispatch a bail agent to the client.

Once the bail bond paperwork is complete, signed, and finalized, the bail process can move forward. This involves a licensed bail agent “posting” bail at the jail where the defendant is being held. This will result in the release of the defendant. A professional and experienced bail bond company can complete the entire bail bond process in less than three hours. For arrests involving alcohol or narcotics, the bail bond process cannot even begin until the facility or jail has determined the defendant sober. This is usually a 7-9 hour wait. Then the bail process can begin.

Bail Bond Fees in Monticello, IN

The fee is usually 10% of the full bail amount that the defendant or customer has to pay.

(I.E.) Full Bail Amount = $10,000, Cost of Bail Service = $1,000

This fee is mandated by state law; the bail agency has no control on this percentage. Some Bail Bond Companies, however, offer payment options and plans.

Getting friends, family, attorneys, or collateral involved in the bail process lets the bail agency know that there is less risk involved in helping the defendant and that they are very likely to show up for court. The bail agency will supervise their bailees because it is ultimately the bail agency’s money at risk. So if the defendant fails to appear for court, the bail company has time to find them and bring them in. If you recall the show, “Dog the Bounty Hunter”, this is his job. So, with this in mind, always fully understand your role and responsibility as a bail bond indemnitor BEFORE agreeing to bail someone out of jail. If it is a person that has a risky history and irresponsible with the law, it is not recommended to bail them out of jail. You will be in a whole heap of a mess if they “skip bail” and fail to show up on their court date. If this happens, the bail agency comes after you, and will expect you to aid them in finding the defendant and bringing them in. You would be required by law to assist them in this search.

The Arrest and Booking Process

When someone is arrested in Monticello, Indiana, they are taken to the local city or county jail for booking. Bail is set during the booking process. Once the defendant has been booked, there are numerous options for getting out of jail.
Release Options:

-Bail Bond or Surety Bond

-Own Recognizance (O.R). This is for lesser crimes, where the judge will just release the defendant on a promise to appear for their scheduled court date. In some cases, there isn’t even a mandatory court date. Just a slap on the wrist and the defendant is on their way. Again, this is only for lesser crimes like Public Intoxication, or driving without car insurance, etc.

-Cash Bail. The defendant would have to pay the entire bail amount in cash (as a cashiers check) to the court. Once the case is resolved, the entire amount is refunded.

-Citation Release. This is just being assigned a court date and being released. This usually happens with traffic violations and lesser crimes.

-Property Bond. This type of bond can take weeks to finalize, and equity in the property must be equal to 150% of the bond. If the defendant fails to appear for court, the property would foreclose.

The Monticello, IN booking process involves background check, fingerprinting, warrant checks, and being entered into the computer program. The defendant is searched for weapons, narcotics, and anything else suggestive or illegal. Their personal belongings are recorded and vacuum packed in a plastic bag. It is returned to them when they are released. In jail, the arrested will just sit on a block of cement and wait hours to be released. Sometimes the jail cells play movies to pass the time. The process of booking a defendant is time consuming, which is why the arrested can wait up to 48 hours to be released from jail.

Being Released from Monticello, IN Jails

The jail release process is the opposite of the booking process, basically. The arrested is taken from the jail cell, and their personal belongings are returned, and then they are given their paperwork with information on court dates and further legal instruction. The release process can take a few minutes or a few hours, it just depends on the size and frequency of the jail.

The important variable in the entire arrest process and ordeal, is finding a trusting and experienced bail bond agency in Monticello, Indiana that will make the process simple for you. They are the key to a fast and secure release.

HOW MUCH DOES A BOND COST IN WHITE COUNTY, INDIANA?

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Cost of a Bail Bond in White County, Indiana?

The cost of a bond in White County, Indiana varies from case to case. There are a number of factors and scenarios that contribute to the amount of bail set for a defendant. This blog will further explain the bond amounts for certain types of arrests in White County, Indiana.

General Bail bond Fees in White County, IN

Bail bond fees in White County, Indiana are the same as all bail bond fees throughout the state. A bail bondsman is allowed to charge no more than 10% of the premium bail amount set. This means, if a defendants premium bail is set for $10,000, the bail bondsman will charge $1,000 to coordinate the release of an arrestee. These terms pertain to State Courts only. If it is a Federal Court case, the cost of bail jumps to 15% of the set bond amount. In Immigration Courts, the bail cost is 20% of the bond amount.

FELONY BAIL COSTS IN WHITE COUNTY, INDIANA

MURDER NO BAIL
CLASS A FELONY $50,000 BOND
CLASS B FELONY $20,000 BOND
CLASS C FELONY $7,500 BOND
CLASS D FELONY $2,500 BOND

ADDITIONAL COSTS

Class A, B, and C felonies will double in amount if any of the following pertains to the defendant:

1. The defendant has more than two “failures to appear” in court.
2. The alleged offense involves serious bodily injury and/or a deadly weapon.
3. There are/were two or more alleged victims.
4. The defendant already has two prior felony convictions.
5. The defendant is a resident somewhere other than Marion County.
6. The defendant has been arrested while on parole, probation, or another bond.
7. The defendant has 10+ prior arrests (excluding public intoxication arrests).

Class D felonies will double, up to $5,000 in bond, if any of the following pertains to the defendant:

1. The defendant is a resident somewhere other than Marion County.
2. The defendant has a prior “failure to appear”
3. The defendant has any previous felony convictions.
4. The defendant is charged with one or more of the offenses listed below:

Residential Entry
Resisting A Police Officer/s
Stalking
Strangulation Criminal Recklessness
Escape Intimidation
Pointing a Firearm
Battery
Criminal Confinement
Criminal Gang Activity

MISDEMEANOR BAIL COSTS IN WHITE COUNTY, INDIANA

Class A Misdemeanor $1,500 Bond
Class B Misdemeanor $1,500 Bond
Class B Misdemeanor $1,500 Bond
Class C Misdemeanor $1,500 Bond

CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASES:

1. Domestic Violence:

CLASS C FELONY $25,000 BOND
CLASS D FELONY $10,000 BOND (PLUS ADDITIONAL FEES)
CLASS A MISDEMEANOR $5,000 (PLUS ADDITIONAL FEES)

2. OWI Misdemeanor Cases:

BAIL IS $1,500 plus $1,000 FOR EVERY PRIOR CONVICTION

3. Invasion of Privacy:

CLASS D FELONY $10,000 BOND
CLASS A MISDEMEANOR $5,000 BOND (PLUS ADDITIONAL FEES)

4. Court Thirteen Cases:

MISDEMEANOR TRAFFIC OFFENSE

5. Sexually Violent Cases

CHILD MOLESTATION OR CHILD SOLICITATION $ NO BOND

TRIAL COURT WILL SET A BOND HEARING. THE ARRESTEE PROCESSING CENTER COMMISSIONER WILL SET THIS HEARING IN THE CORRESPONDING COURT WITHIN A PERIOD OF 48 HOURS.
PROVISIONAL BAIL AMOUNT REVIEW

So long as it’s not a felony court case, the trial courts in which the case was assigned will review the bail set within the following time frames:

1. Five days from the day of arrest by the Arrestee Processing Center Commissioner

OR

2. With in five days of receiving the Receipt of Motion of the State or the defendant
If you have questions such as how long it takes to bail someone out of jail, or what information you need to post bail, call Justice Bail Bonds, twenty four seven. We are standing by with all your White County Bail Bonds information right now!