The Bail Process
What is Bail?
Bail is a part of our legal system that allows an accused person to be temporarily released from custody so they can continue their lives while they prepare for their day in court. In criminal cases, it is a sum of money, real property, or bail bond that needs to be posted by
or on behalf of a defendant to guarantee their appearance in court. The right to reasonable bail is guaranteed to you by the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
How does a bail bond work?
The court will set the amount of bail required for the defendants release. Under Alabama law, a company can provide a bail bond that guarantees payment of the full bail amount to the court if the defendant does not show up for all scheduled appearances. These bail bonds
are offered by licensed bail service providers. For providing the pre-trial release service, bail service providers charge a premium – a percentage of the total bail amount, typically 10%. However this rate will vary under certain circumstances.
What is a bail bond?
A bail bond is a financial guarantee made by or on behalf of a criminal defendant that is used to guarantee their appearance in court through the end of their trial. Failure by the defendant to appear will result in a bail bond forfeiture.
What is the difference between bail bond amount and premium?
The bail bond amount is the full amount of the bail that is set by the court. The premium is the dollar amount charged by the bail service provider for providing the pre-trial release service.
Who is a co-signer/indemnitor?
A co-signer/indemnitor is the person(s) willing to be responsible for the defendant while they are out on bail and who co-assumes financial responsibility, including guarantee of the full bail bond amount.
What does it mean when a bail bond is disposed?
A bail bond is disposed when the legal process/trial has finished. It does not matter whether the defendant is found guilty/innocent, or if the case has been dismissed. At this point, the bail bond is discharged. However, any unpaid premium, fees or other amounts charged by the bail service provider are still owed.
When does a forfeiture take place?
A forfeiture occurs when a defendant fails to appear in court. If a defendant misses a court date, a warrant is issued for their arrest.
How much does it cost to bail someone out of jail?
All cases are different. To answer this question in your case please contact a licensed member of our staff. Call the Alpha Bonding office at 251-580-5182 and we can help direct you.
Is the premium refundable?
The defendant and any co-signer(s) are responsible to the bail service provider for the premium and any fees or additional expenses incurred by the bail service provider on their behalf. These monies are earned at the time the defendant (and any fees incurred thereafter) is released from custody and therefore not subject to return. This is the case even if the defendant is found innocent, the case is dismissed or the defendant is placed back into custody for another offense.
Should you have further questions about the bail bond process please feel free to contact us.
Defendant and Indemnitor Services
Whether it’s you, a friend or a family member who gets arrested, Alpha Bonding will guide you through the process of getting released on bail. We provide free and confidential bail information over the phone. Call us now at (251) 580-5182 or send a message to us at alphabondingllc@gmail.com.
Don’t worry.
We will get you out, and we will help you through it.
Bail
After an arrest, the court sets a bail amount (the dollar amount varies based on the charges and other contributing factors). This is the court’s way of making sure that a defendant appears at their scheduled court date, or dates once released from jail. The first thing to do is contact us so we can put our expertise and experience to work for you immediately. We will need basic information such as the defendant’s name and the name of the jail or city where the defendant is located. We then work with you and the jail to secure the release of the defendant by delivering a bail bond to the court in the full amount of the bail set by the court, to secure you or your loved one’s release. Depending on the circumstances, collateral or a co-signer are usually required. Our process is fast, professional and effective.
That is why more people turn to Alpha Bonding than any other bail service provider in Baldwin County.
Flexible Payment Options
Alpha Bonding provides flexible, interest-free payment plans as long as payments are made on time. We tailor every option to best fit each situation and to meet the economic needs of our customers. Ultimately, we focus on creating an affordable, prudent solution for you whether you specifically need bail or are helping someone else secure bail with us. Remember, nobody has lower prices than Alpha Bonding.
Rates
The Standard Premium Rate is 10%
We will always go out of our way to work with you if you cannot afford the full 10%. And our financial department is unparralleled in working with people who may struggle from time to time with their payments. If you get behind on your payments just give us a call and we can help.
Our minimum rate for a single bond is $75.00. The normal bail bond premium, for residents of Alabama is 10%. This can at times be circumstantial, and if your rate is more than 10% you will be informed of your rate prior to the bond being written.
Nobody has lower prices than Alpha Bonding. We are happy to offer the best premium rate to our customers. These fees do not include certain rates or fees applied by local or state government agencies when required.
Out of State Requirements:
For those who do not live in Alabama we require the following.
A valid co-signer who is a direct relative.
A bond rate set by the current company policy for out of state defendants.
Out of state Defendants must retain a lawyer.
Note that out of state Defendants will be bonded out at the discretion of the bonding agent on duty.
Remote Indemintor/Cosigner
We were the first in Baldwin County to perfect the remote cosigner process. This process allows someone to cosign for the person being bonded out from literally anywhere. And our process for this is continually improving.