Should You Post Bail?

Naturally, when someone is arrested, one the first things they want to do is figure out how they can get out of jail. Once you are arrested you are given an amount of bail that is based on the charges you were given during your arrest. This can range anywhere from a few hundred to thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. With that type of money, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of posting bail.

What is Bail?

Bail is considered the amount of money you must post in order to gain your freedom. This money essentially says that you promise that you will return for your court appearance. If you pay the bail yourself, then those funds can be applied to your court costs or fines at the completion of your case. A bondsman can front the money for you if you agree to pay them a portion of the cost up front, however, those funds will not be used to cover any expenses and you may lose any money that you give to the bondsman.

Freedom at a Cost

It is normal to immediately start thinking of ways that you can post your bail. Many people rely on bondsman to help them through the process. However, it is important that you understand if you use the services of a bondsman, the 10 percent bond that you give them may be considered a few for their services, and thus is money that you will never get back. Second, if you post bail and then your bail is raised during your first court appearance, you will have to come up with additional funds or go back to jail. This may not seem worth it to people who have a limited amount of income. In some cases, it may be best to wait until your first court appearance to post bail.

Advantages of Talking to a Criminal Defense Attorney

Before you talk to a bondsman, you should reach out to a criminal defense attorney. Having an attorney can certainly be beneficial because there are a number of potential things they can do for you to get you out of jail faster without spending as much money on bail. Here are some ways a defense attorney can help you:

  • An attorney can ask that your bond is reduced or eliminated. In this situation, you essentially agree that you will come back to court and a monetary promise is not needed. Your attorney will rely heavily on establishing that you are of sound character and will return to court in the future.

  • An attorney can have the charges dropped before your court appearance and you will not have to be out any money. In some cases, the prosecutor will drop charges if the defense attorney can effectively argue that there is no case.

Contact an Attorney for Help

Posting bail can be a complicated process, but it doesn’t have to be. Located in West Palm Beach, Florida, Scott Skier is ready to assist you with your criminal defense needs. He can help you through the process from start to finish and has a reputation of providing quality representation to each of his clients. Call him today for a consultation.

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