410-871-1750
How does the process work? What do I Do Now?
If you are ever arrested, no matter what the reason or who may be at fault, the first thing to do is secure your release with the help of a Lawyers Trust Bail Bonds agent. To help you understand what to expect after an arrest in Carroll County or the surrounding area, here is a general overview of the criminal justice process and the bail bond process. If you do not understand how the process works, Lawyers Trust Bail Bonds will take the time to explain the bail bond process so you do understand. We are here for you throughout the entire process.
ARREST AND BOOKING
When an individual is arrested, generally, they will be taken to a local law enforcement station for booking. During the arrest and booking process, bail will be set, if applicable. After they have been booked, the defendant has several options for release which are outlined below.
The booking process basically consists of fingerprinting, background check, check for warrants and getting into the computer system. The detainee will be searched for weapons. Their personal belongings will be catalogued and retained by the jailer. During their time in jail the detainee will not have access to their money, credit cards, cell phones, or other personal belongings.
After fingerprints are taken, the defendant is taken to a cell. The cell may or may not have a payphone for use. Some jails allow for phone calls before the person is brought to the cell, others will give phone access when it is convenient for the jailer.
There is considerable work involved on the part of the jail to get the individual “processed in”. After the jailer has done this work, the computer system needs to update. The entire process can be time consuming. Some jails, especially smaller jails, do this quickly and efficiently and are complete with “processing in” in an hour or less. Other jails take several hours to accomplish this. The busyness of the jail is also a large factor in determining the time required to process an arrestee.
Bail is set
After being processed through central Booking, the defendant will see a Commissioner. District court Commissioners could have set standard bail amounts for common charges so that you do not have to wait days to see a judge. The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution specifies that bail must not be excessive. Bail is not supposed to raise money for the government or financially punish citizens accused (not convicted) of a crime. Instead, bail allows defendants to remain free until they have their day in court.
Defendants must appear in court on the day and time instructed or the court may forfeit the bail bond, causing you to lose any bail money you’ve paid directly to the courts. The court may also issue an bench warrant if you “skip bail.” In certain cases, a judge may set specific conditions that a defendant must comply with while out on bond. A requirement to ”obey all laws” is common, but some conditions relate specifically to the alleged crime, such as an order not to contact the complaining witness in a domestic violence case
What are bail bonds?
The Bail Bond Process and the Court System
The purpose of the bail system is to guarantee the appearance of a
criminal defendant in court, and it is important that you know how
bail bond process works. Our licensed bail agents can answer all
your specific questions or give you more bail bond information 24
hours a day.
To speak with a licensed Maryland bondsman and for immediate bail service, please call
410-871-1750
HOW DO BAIL BONDS WORK?
After the bail bond paperwork is finalized, a licensed agent will “post” the bail bond at the appropriate Courts resulting in the release of the defendant A bail bond is formally known as a “Surety Bond”. Usually, a friend, relative, attorney or defendant will contact a bail bond company by phone. During the initial phone consultation, most bail bond companies will collect basic information about the situation, such as where is the detainee being held, how long have they been there, what are the charges, how long have they been in their current residence, do they work, etc. The bail company is assessing the risk involved in the bail bond.
If the customer chooses to purchase a bail bond, the customer will need to sign Bail Bond Documents including a Bail Bond Application, a Bail Indemnity Agreement, and a receipt.
Lawyers Trust Bail Bonds can supply these documents through our website to help expedite the process. Or we can have an agent dispatched to meet you at the detention center or at a convenient location to complete the process.
From start to finish, a competent bail bond company will complete the entire bail bond process in just a few hours. Note that we can’t begin the bail bond process until all the arrest and booking procedures are complete.
OPTIONS FOR RELEASE
There are the 5 options for release
Bail Bond (formally a Surety Bond)
In Maryland, like most states, the cost of a bail bond is set by law. As a consumer, you should know that the fee for the bail bond is set at 10% of the full bail amount. For example, if the full bail amount is $25,000, which is the average bond in Maryland, your cost is $2,500. Keep in mind that these rates are non-negotiable and are set by the Maryland Department of Insurance. There should not be any hidden fees or taxes from the bail bond company.
This makes it easy because as a consumer shopping for a bail bond, you don’t need to call multiple bail bond companies to compare rates. Legally, it should all be the same 10% rate.
Own Recognizance (also known as “O.R.”)
Defendants can be released on their Own Recognizance, also known as “OR”. This is usually reserved for lesser crimes. Only a judge can decide to release a detainee on OR. In such a case, the defendant is released with a written promise to appear in court.
Release from jail may be obtained by posting a property bond with the court in some instances. Because Property Bonds involve real estate and can be likened to the buying or selling of a home, the process is usually very time consuming. The amount of a property bond is based on a percentage of the properties tax assesment at that time. Fees on a property bond would be similar to escrow fees, appraisal and title search fees, for example. If the defendant fails to complete court requirements, the court would foreclose on the property.
To be released on cash bail, an individual must post the full amount of the the bail with the court in the form of cash or cashiers check. In order to post cash bail, an individual should check with the clerk to verify forms of payment accepted in an individual jurisdiction as different courts may have other options or restrictions. The source of funds for large bail generally must be verified to ensure that funds come from legal sources.
After the case has been resolved, the entire amount is refunded. Cash bail is a good option for people with a low dollar bail amount or who can afford to have large sums of money tied up for an extensive period of time.
Citation Release (also known as a “Cite Out”)
A Citation Release involves the issuance of a citation to the arrestee, informing the arrestee that he or she must appear for an appointed court date. This is typical for more minor infractions such as traffic violations.
How long does it take?
Most often, your friends or family will be home on the same day that you contact Lawyers Trust Bail Bonds. We know how important your friends and family are, so rest assured – we will make every attempt to expedite the process – every time!
It really depends on where the person is being held at. Some jurisdictions like city jails take an hour or so, and other jurisdictions like the county jails run by the local sheriff can average 2-8 hours, but can take as long as 12-24 hours. Immigration facilities usually take 6 hours, and Federal facilities take 2-3 hours. No matter how long it takes, Lawyers Trust will be monitoring the process to insure an expeditious release.