What You Need To Know About A Bail Bond
When someone is arrested for a criminal charge in Raleigh, North Carolina there is usually a lot of different moving parts in the overall process going on at the same time, with all this going on it can be very confusing and it is easy to miss or not totally understand the specific details of each and every step during the arrest and booking process at the local jail. The most important part in posting bail that will play out in this process is the setting of the bond amount at the local jail.
A bail bond is the process used to secure the defendant’s appearance at all future court dates until the case is resolved. There are several different types of bonds in Wake County the most common are:
- A written promise to appear: Generally used in less serious criminal offenses such as traffic tickets for people who have no criminal record and that are typically not a flight risk. There is no kind of monetary collateral or guarantee made by the defendant when a written promise is given on the bond.
- Unsecured Bond: This kind of bond requires a monetary guarantee or promise from the defendant as a condition of pre-trial release. However, it does not require that the defendant or their family to make any payments or put any money up, only to give the guarantee that they will pay the amount due of the bond if they miss court.
- Secured Bond: This type of bond requires that the defendant put up some kind of financial collateral or money to secure their release from jail. In most cases a bail bondsman or bail bond company is used. Generally a bail bond company is used to assist in the securing of a defendant’s release on secured bonds.
- Cash Bond: Also called a “C Bond” this is the most serious kind of bond in Wake County. A “C Bond” is a cash bond that requires the defendant to come up with the entire amount of the bond set forth in order to secure their release. Typical “C Bonds” are for defendants who have missed court more than twice on the same charge. Most bail bond companies will not assist defendants with cash bonds without requiring a full deposit in the amount of the bond.
Now That The Bond Amount Is Set How Do I Post Bail?
The three ways you can post bond in Raleigh, North Carolina at the Wake County Detention Center and they are:
- Paying the entire bond amount to the court.
- Offering the court collateral equal to or in excess of the bond amount (i.e. your home).
- Hiring a bail bondsman to post bond.
Most people do not have the money to pay the entire amount owed for bail at the drop of a dime or in an emergency situation and so for them, there are a couple of different options.
The first and only option including the most popular, easiest way to post bail in Wake County is to call a Raleigh bail bondsman or local bail bond company. A bail bonding company will sign a contract with the defendant where they agree to be responsible for the entire bond in exchange for payment of a fee and/or other collateral.
The bail bonding premium generally charged in Wake County is capped at 15% of the total bond amount but can often be lower than that depending on the charges and defendants criminal history. Having a good co-signer will also increase your chances of getting a reduce fee when posting bail through a bail bondsman.
When posting bail in most counties in North Carolina a co-signer will be required in addition to paying the fee to post bail.
What Happens When I Post Bail?
So long as there are no other legal matters, pending charges, federal holds or immigration issues surrounding your release you should be able to post bail and be released.
After posting bail there may be certain pre-trial conditions that must be followed as a condition of your release such as appearing to all court dates. In some cases you may be required to refrain from driving a motor vehicle or possessing a firearm. It will vary on a case by case basis and will be determined by the defendants criminal history.
If you have any questions about the bail bond system and how it works in Raleigh, North Carolina contact Winston Bail Bonding today at (919) 819-6918.