Background

• A bail bondsman is any person or corporation that will act as a surety and pledge money or property as bail for the appearance of a criminal defendant in court. The bondsman enters into a contract with a family member of the defendant. Bondsmen charge a fee of 10 percent of the bond. In scenarios where the bail is a huge amount, the bondsman may ask that collateral such as a house be put up as a guarantee.
  
  

Benefits

• Using a bondsman is an option for defendants who don't have the funds to satisfy bail requirements to get out of jail. Bondsmen are available around the clock. The fact that the contract is not between the defendant but their family member and the bail bondsman ensures the incentive for a smooth business transaction.
  
  

Considerations

• The services of the bail bondsman are recognized by the legal system. The chances of a defendant skipping town dramatically increase if he posts bail with his own resources. Once a bondsman enters into a legally binding agreement and posts bail on behalf of the defendant, he is now responsible for making sure he shows up at all court dates.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Bondsmen have establish criteria that defendants must meet in order to become a client. It is normal for a defendant to be denied if the risk is too extreme. If a deal does fail, they will go to great lengths to recoup any losses that they have incurred, including repossession of a house or settling the matter in civil court.
  
  

Warning

• Being a bondsman is a risky business. They take risks on people who allegedly committed acts that jeopardized the safety of themselves and/or others. They can lose incredible amounts of money if they are burned one too many times. To prevent a loss, some may hire a bounty hunter if they feel the defendant has gone into hiding. By skipping out on court dates, defendants are putting their loved ones in a situation where they may lose whatever they put up as collateral to the bondsman.