3 Reasons Why Bail Bonds Are The Better Choice When Compared To Cash Bail
In most cases, you will have the option of either posting cash bail or bond when securing someone's release from jail after an arrest. While both of these options ultimately accomplish the same goal, there are some benefits that come along with choosing bail bonds over cash bail. Continue reading to learn more about some of these benefits.
#1: Bail Bonds Require Less Cash Upfront
Unless you are one of the fortunate few that have a virtually endless supply of cash on hand, coming up with enough money to bail a loved one out of jail can be a stressful situation. The fact that there is often no notice before needing to come up with this money can make this situation even more difficult. Bail bonds help in this situation because they require less cash upfront. Rather than needing to come up with the full bail amount, bail bondsmen allow you to pay just a percentage of the total amount and then sign a promissory note for the remaining amount. You will only need to pay this additional amount if your loved one fails to show up for all of their court appearances. This can make the financial burden of posting bail much easier to bear.
#2: Bail Bonds Can Be Arranged Before An Arrest
If you or a loved one have an active arrest warrant and plan on turning yourself in, bail bonds will allow you to make arrangements for your release before you are ever even arrested. This is not possible with a cash bail since the jail cannot receive and process your cash payment until after you are officially in custody. By choosing to arrange for a bail bond prior to arrest, you will be able to truly limit the amount of time that is spent in police custody. Oftentimes, this can even allow you to avoid the need to be transferred to the general jail population.
#3: Bail Bonds Can Be Obtained Any Time Of Day Or Night
While hours of operation can vary from one jail to the next, many jails only limit the hours that their cash bail office is open. In most cases, this office will only be open during regular business hours. This means that you may not be able to post a cash bail until the next business day if your loved one happens to be arrested at night, over the weekend, or on a major holiday. The good news is, this does not mean that you simply need to leave your loved one in jail until the bail office reopens. This is because many bondsmen offer their services 24/7. This means that with the help of bail bonds, you will always be able to get your loved one out of jail quickly regardless of what time of day or night it may be.