Bail bonds are an interesting subject that very few people know about. This is because many people don't think about what a bail bondsman does until they have to use one for their bonding services. Whether it is themselves, a friend, or a relative, who has been arrested, they then have to find a bail bondsman even though they don't know how the process works. In this blog, we will describe the different types of bail bonds in Virginia.
Released On Recognizance (Summons)
In cases where someone has commited a low-level crime, such as a misdemeanor or traffic violation, the magistrate may allow the accused person to be released on their own recognizance. This essentially means you are released on your own signature and are not required to put up money or other collateral to be bailed out of jail. When a defendant is released on their own recognizance, they must agree to appear in court at the date that has been set for them. If they do not appear, they still can be charged with an additional criminal offense, known as "failure to appear." This additional charge may mean that you will have to hire a bondsman to get out of jail the next time!
Unsecured Bail Bond
An "unsecured" bond is a bond that is posted by the individual in order to be released from jail, but it again does not require a bails bondsman. An unsecured bond is the next step up from being released on your own recognizance. In the case of an unsecured bond the magistrate sets a dollar amount such as $1,000, but you are not required to come up with any money or collateral unless you fail to appear at your court date. This is another instance where you do not need a bail bondsman because you can simply sign yourself out of the jail, and pledge to make all your required court appearances.
Secured Bail Bond
A secured bail bond is used in instances of medium level to higher level crimes, or certain low-level crimes defined in by each state. It can also be used in instances where the defendant has a history of failing to appear for their required court appearances or is deemed as a flight risk for other reasons. If the magistrate sets a secured bond you will need to hire a qualified, affordable bail bondsman to post your bail or you will be required to come up with the entire amount of the bond. Many people cannot afford to come up with the full amount of these bonds, or even if they can, they do not wish to tie up their money for an indefinite period of time until their court case is concluded. Court cases may take months or even years in some cases to come to conclusion. If you need a Virginia bail bondsman, we highly recommend Apex Bail Bonds in Danville for your bail bonding needs. Apex will serve the entire state of Virginia and provide you with a professional bail agent that can guide you through the entire process.
For more information on bail bond professionals see: https://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/25440-bail-bond-industry-a-strong-lobby-in-raleigh