After being detained at the RPDC jail a person may choose to be freed on bail. Bail is a sum of money given to the court to guarantee that the defendant will show up for the scheduled court appearance. But there are two different ways to post bail: with cash or a bail bond. We’ll examine the distinctions between bail bonds and cash bail in this post to help you decide which is best for you.
Bail Bonds
A bail bond is an agreement made by the court the defendant and the bail bond agent. A defendant may hire a bail bond agent if they are unable to pay the whole sum of bail. In exchange for depositing the full bail amount with the court the bail bond agent normally charges a fee that is a percentage of the total bail amount.
The possibility that the defendant won’t show up in court is one that the bail bond agent assumes. The bail bond agent may hire a bounty hunter to track down the offender and bring them back to jail if they fail to show up for court. The defendant or their family may be forced to submit collateral such as a car or house to secure the bail bond in addition to paying the agent’s fee.
Bail in cash
Contrarily, cash bail is when the defendant or their family pays the entire bail sum to the court immediately. Until the defendant shows up for their scheduled court appearance, the court holds the money as collateral. The court keeps the bail money in the event that the defendant fails to show up for court.
Which One Fits You Best?
The choice between cash bail and bail bonds ultimately depends on your financial circumstances and the seriousness of the offense you were arrested for. When making this choice keep the following things in mind:
Financial Resources
Cash bail can be your best alternative if you have the means to cover the whole bail sum. This will allow you to avoid paying the costs charged by bail bond agencies and if you show up for your court date, you will get your whole bail sum back.
A bail bond can be your only chance to get out of jail though if you are unable to pay the full sum of bail. Be aware that the costs charged by bail bond agencies can change depending on the amount of bail needed and the risk involved.
Risk of Missing a Court Date
Cash bail can be your best alternative if you are certain that you will show up for court. The full bail payment will be returned if you show up for court as required.
However, a bail bond might be a better choice if you run the risk of missing court. Bail bond agents take the chance that you won’t show up for court, and if you don’t, they might engage a bounty hunter to find you. Knowing that a bail bond agency has a vested financial interest in your appearance in court may encourage you to make the necessary appearances.
Severity of the Crime
Your choice between bail bonds and cash bail may also be influenced by how serious the offence for which you were detained is. If you were detained for a very small crime like a moving violation, the bond amount can be so low that you can afford to post cash bail. The bail sum can be too costly for you to afford without a bail bond agent’s assistance if you have been detained for a serious offence, like a felony.