Five Facts About Bail Bonds You May Not Know

bailIf you find yourself in a position of needing to bail out yourself or a loved one, you know just how tricky and convoluted the process can be. It’s never as simple as they make it out to be on TV. If you need to bail out a loved one, knowing these five facts about bail bonds can help you better prepare for the situation ahead. At Freedom Bail Bonds, not only can we help with bail bonds, but we also want to be sure that all of our clients are well-educated on the topic at hand. Check out these five facts about bail bonds to learn more and to see how these facts may affect your case.

Fact #1: Paying the Bond Yourself Isn’t Always the Best Route

Many people think they’ll just pay the bond and be done with it, but it doesn’t always work that way. Paying the bond may require you to pay in increments for one large fee or different fees at different times. On top of that, it can be rather costly, leaving a large dent in your finances. Your best bet is to go through a bail bonds company.

Fact #2: Collateral May be Different Things

Collateral may be a number of different things, including items you may not think about. Keep this in mind if you know you will be required to put up collateral for a loved one.

Fact #3: It Doesn’t Always End With the Court Dates

People tend to think they’ll pay bail and then show up to their court date and everything will be peachy. However, what they may not know is that they may also be required to take education and training courses, appear at numerous court dates, and do other things that they might not think about.

Fact #4: Bail Isn’t Always Necessary

In some cases, bail isn’t always necessary! Surprising, but true. However, if you do need to pay bail, we’re always here to help.

Fact #5: A Bail Bonds Company Can Help You

Sometimes, when you need to bail yourself or a loved one out of jail, you might not have the funds or the collateral to. A bail bonds company, like ourselves, can help you bail a loved one or yourself out of jail. If you’re in need of this kind of assistance, Freedom Bail Bonds is here to help. We understand how stressful this kind of situation can be. Give us a call today so we can get started helping you!

Felony Bonds vs. Misdemeanor Bonds: What You Need to Know

handcuffsWhen you are charged with a crime, it’s usually classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony. What you are charged with will determine the penalties, punishments, bail amount, and whether or not you are eligible for bail. When you’re in need of bail money, a bail bonds place can help. At Freedom Bail Bonds, we offer both misdemeanor and felony bonds. Here are some of the things you need to know about felony and misdemeanor bonds.

The Differences Between a Misdemeanor and Felony

The biggest difference between a misdemeanor and a felony is that people are usually charged with felonies for bigger crimes. Some common felonies include:

  • Murder
  • Rape
  • Aggravated assault
  • Possession of a controlled substance (over a certain amount since this can also qualify as a misdemeanor under a certain amount)
  • Burglary over a certain amount
  • Kidnapping
  • Arson

These crimes are seen as “elevated” crimes. Misdemeanor crimes are usually to a lesser degree. Some common misdemeanor crimes include:

  • Petty theft
  • Vandalism
  • Trespassing
  • Reckless driving

The punishments for each crime depend on whether it’s a felony or misdemeanor, the amount in question (if applicable), and whether you have any past convictions or not. For misdemeanors, penalties include fines, probation, jail time of up to a year, and community services. Typically, jail time is spent in a county jail, rather than a prison, and some sentences can be completed on the weekends only. Felonies, on the other hand, result in higher fines, longer jail times (in actual prisons), and other punishments.

Bail for Felonies vs. Misdemeanors

Misdemeanors tend to result in bail of a lesser amount than bail money needed for a felony. In addition, some people who are charged with felonies are never granted bail. This is usually reserved for high crimes such as murder and rape. While bail amount for misdemeanors can be in the thousands alone, bail amounts for felonies can reach the millions. Even though you only have to pay ten percent, this can still be a huge chunk of cash. This is where bonds come in. Bonds from bail bonds agency bail you out at the time, so you can stay at your home and have more time to prep for the trial. Felony bonds are typically greater in price and come with more paperwork (since there is a greater risk involved) than misdemeanor bonds. Luckily, at Freedom Bail Bonds, we offer both. If you or a loved one is in need of a bail bonds agency, call us today!