In Nevada, you can be released with a pending criminal case if you post bail. Bail is money paid to the court clerk for early release. Bail money helps discourage defendants from disobeying court orders while out on bail. After your case ends, you can recover the money from the court. Learning that a friend or loved one has been detained for breaking the law is difficult to accept. However, you must find a way to secure their release to protect them from spending time in jail.
After the judge has set the specific amount needed for the defendant, you can go to the jail cell and present the amount. Unfortunately, most families are unprepared for an arrest, making it challenging to pay cash bail. If you do not have bail money and do not want to watch your loved one rot in jail, you will need the help of a bail bond company. At Express bail bonds, we will offer you much-needed financial assistance and expert guidance throughout the bail process.
Understanding Nevada Bail Process
Bail is the money a defendant or their family pays to a Nevada court for reels after an arrest. Posting the bail guarantees the defendant's return for trial and other court proceedings. The court will set a person's bail after arrest and booking into a jail cell. Often, the court will hold a bail hearing where all the factors of your case will be assessed to determine the bail amount applicable to your case. After your arrest, a bail hearing is scheduled within seventy-two hours.
At the bail hearing, your criminal defense attorney will attempt to convince the court that you deserve the bail release. When setting your bail, a judge will consider your ability to come back for the scheduled court and how you affect the safety of other community members.
Your goal in the hearing is to demonstrate that you pose no danger to anyone, and you can do it by presenting the following evidence:
- No prior criminal record. The court is easily convinced that a first-time offender who faces minor charges would not threaten another person's safety.
- No outstanding warrants for you. By showing that you are not on parole, probation, or the run from law enforcement, the court will be more lenient in the bail set.
- No arrest for a violent offense. If you are in jail for a minor violation that doesn't involve violence against another person, you can argue this at the bail hearing.
- You were not arrested for weapon possession.
- You have a good reputation. You can bring witnesses to the bail hearing to vouch for your reputation.
Another way through which you can convince the court to set a low bail amount in your case is by proving that you are not a flight risk. Flight risk is a person's likelihood of skipping bail by failing to appear for their trial after a bail release.
Some of the arguments that could help indicate a low flight risk in your case include the following:
- You have strong community ties. When a person is strongly connected to the community, they may have more to lose by fleeing after a bail release. Proving that you have stable employment and a family in the arrest jurisdiction may help prove that you have a low flight risk.
- You have no history of skipping court dates. You can present this as evidence if you have previously dealt with Nevada laws and honored all your court orders.
- No immigration issues. If you are an immigrant in the United States, showing that you have no immigration issues helps prove low flight risk.
- Willingness to wear a GPS tracker. A person willing to wear a GPS tracker throughout the bail release may convince the court to set a low bail amount.
While you attempt to convince the court to release you on bail, the district attorney may argue that a high bail amount is needed to discourage you from fleeing. When the judge listens to the arguments from the defense and prosecution, they can reach the following conclusions:
- Release you without bail. Releasing you on your Recognizance means that you will not post bail for a release. Nevada bail laws allow the court to release defendants facing mi or charges without bail. However, you must sign a notice promising to return for trial. The judge will also attach other conditions specific to your case. Failure to honor your OR release could result in issuing a bench warrant against you.
- Lower your bail. Specific bail amounts apply to different offenses. From the standard amount, the judge can reduce or increase the amount basing their arguments on your case circumstances. If it is clear that you cannot afford to post bail, the court will lower it to an affordable amount.
- Make no changes to the bail. Sometimes, the evidence presented by your defense team and the district attorney may not impact the bail amount. Therefore, the judge may order that you post bail specific to your crime.
- Increase the bail amount. When the court discovers that you are a threat to the safety and a flight risk, they may increase your bail amount. A high bail amount is meant to discourage a defendant from skipping bail.
- Hold you with no bail. When you have committed a serious offense like murder or manslaughter, the judge may order that you be held without bail. Additionally, you could suffer this fate if you have a history of skipping court dates and fleeing after bail. A no-bail detention means you remain locked up until your trial ends and the judges issue a verdict in your case.
Bail Bonds in Nevada
The first step in bailing someone out of jail is contacting the jail where the defendant is held to determine the amount needed for their bail. If you are financially capable, you can post a cash bail. However, you must understand that a total bail amount is necessary to secure a cash bail release. The risks associated with cash bail are high.
Besides the high bail amounts, cash bail cannot be reinstated if you suffer a bail forfeiture. When all court appearances are honored, and the case ends. However, you must understand that a defendant's inability to attend the trial or follow other bail terms increases the risk of bail forfeiture.
If the bail is too high or you want to avoid the risks of cash bail, you can contact a Spring Valley Bail Bonds service for assistance. A bail bond is a contractual agreement you make with the surety company. The bail bondsman agrees to post bail for the defendant at a fee. In Nevada, the premium fee for bail bonds is 15% of your total bail amount.
Before contacting your Springs Valley Bail Bondsman, you must ensure to have all the identification and bail information about the defendant. When the surety company helps you bail a loved one out of jail, they ensure that the defendant follows all court orders. The bond contract is often terminated when a criminal case has ended, and the surety company has collected the bail money from the court.
The following documents are needed to process a bail bond in Nevada:
- Your application form. You must fill out a bail bond request form.
- Payment for arraignment form. If there is a cost for arraignment, the document indicating the amount paid is attached to other bail bond documents.
- Authorization to process payment for a bail bond
- Information on future court dates and your responsibility towards the defendant. You shoulder the burden of paying the service fee if you purchase bail bonds for another individual. Additionally, you must ensure that the defendant is present for their court proceedings.
Bail bond companies have the necessary finances needed to post bail in Nevada. Therefore, working with a Springs Valley Bail Bondsman to secure your loved one's release is fast. Depending on the traffic in the jail cell, a defendant may be out within an hour. The quick release saves them from missing work and reduces the psychological stigma associated with spending time in jail.
Benefits and Setbacks of using a Spring Valley Bail Bonds Service
Before you purchase a bail bond for your loved one or friend, you must weigh the pros and cons of your decision. Some benefits you will enjoy from working with a bail bonds company include the following:
- Faster release. Bail bond companies have the resources and experience to ensure a speedy release for your loved one. Therefore, as soon as you contact them, you can expect to have your loved one home within several hours.
- The defendant spends more time with family. Remaining in jail removes the time a defendant needs to spend with their family in difficult times. The high bail amounts set by the court discourage many defendants from wanting to secure a release. However, a bail bond offers a cheaper option.
- Expert guidance. Besides providing bail money, a Spring Valley bail bonds service will guide the defendant through their release conditions and ensure they attend the trial.
Even with the attractive benefits of bail bonds, you need to understand that the 15% fee you pay for a bail bonds service is not refundable. Therefore, even when the company collects its refund from the court, it will still keep the bail bonds fee.
Bail Conditions in Nevada
In addition to making a monetary commitment to secure a release from jail, the court can attach the following conditions to your release:
- Remain in the county. If you are released on bail in Nevada, the court may require you to remain in the county of your arrest until your case ends. The court enforces these travel restrictions by asking you to surrender your passport and other travel documents.
- Avoid contact with a victim. If you face an arrest for committing a violent crime against another person, you must avoid communication or contact with the victim while out on bail.
- Avoid criminal activity. Committing another crime while out on bail violates your bail terms. In such a situation, you will suffer a bail revocation and be held without bail.
- Avoid certain geographic areas. While out on bail, the court will prohibit you from frequenting particular locations like your crime scene.
Some bail conditions are more severe than others. However, violation of these terms will prompt a bail revocation hearing. When you work with a Spring Valley Bail bonds service, you understand your bail conditions to avoid a violation.
Detention facilities in Spring Valley, NV:
Clark County Detention Center
Las Vegas Community Correctional Center
Courts around Spring Valley, NV:
Las Vegas Justice Court
Find a Spring Valley Bail Bonds Company Near Me
For each defendant facing criminal charges in Nevada, the court orders a bail amount to discourage them from fleeing. The bail amount for each individual is valued on the seriousness of their charges and criminal history. If you do not post your bail, you can remain in jail as you wait for the outcome of your criminal case, which is often inconvenient. While bail money can be too high to raise on short notice, you should avoid exploring other alternatives to bail your loved one out.
Bail bond companies in Nevada offer financial assistance to defendants who cannot afford to post cash bail. Through their bail bondsmen, the surety company will post your loved one's bail at a 15% fee. Raising 15% of the bail amount is easier, ensuring a faster custody release. Finding the right bail bond company to guide you through the bail process can be overwhelming.
At Express Bail Bonds, we work hard to ensure that you have a smooth bail posting process. Our Spring Valley Bail Bondsmen are available 24/7 to post your loved one's bail. Contact us at 702-633-2245.