Nobody likes being arrested or detained. If you have been arrested, your primary concern would likely be how you can be released as quickly as possible. One way of ensuring you secure your release is making bail. Posting bail can be expensive. However, you do not have to pay it from your pocket if you lack the funds or cannot raise it within a short period. A professional bail bonds service can help you post a bond instead.
If you have been arrested in Summerlin at Express Bail Bonds, we can help you. We are a Summerlin bail bonds service that offers flexible bail bond payment options that suit our clients' needs. Our primary objective is to ensure our clients return to their daily businesses as quickly as possible. Also, Our bail bondsmen are available 24/7 because they understand every minute counts when securing a jail release. Call us, and we will start working on your case immediately.
Defining Bail and Bail Bonds
Even though most people use the terms bail and bail bonds interchangeably, these words refer to different things. Bail is the money you post with the court or jail facility holding you to secure your release pending your court trial.
Every citizen is entitled to bail per the eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, except in a few situations where a person can be denied bail. A judge sets bail at a bail hearing and is guided by a bail schedule. A bail schedule refers to a list of Nevada crimes with their corresponding bail amounts. Bail schedules provide a fair means of permitting arrestees to secure their release by posting bail.
A bail hearing, on the other hand, is a hearing in which the defense and prosecution present arguments and evidence against and for imposing bail. If the judge agrees to impose bail, they can set it at the amount indicated on the bail schedule or increase or reduce it. Judges will consider various factors when establishing whether to agree to bail and the amount to impose on the accused person. These factors include:
- The possibility of the defendant committing more illegal activity after release on bail.
- The seriousness and nature of the threat to the supposed victim, other people, or the general public that the defendant's release would pose.
- The nature of the crime with which the defendant is charged, the apparent possibility of conviction, and the potential sentence, as these factors relate to the risk of failure to attend future court proceedings.
- The identity of responsible community members who would vouch for the reliability of the accused.
- The defendant's criminal history, including, but not limited to, any record of appearing or failing to appear in court after release without bail or on bail.
- The accused's mental condition, character, and reputation.
- The accused's relationship with their close friends, parents, children, spouse, and other family members.
- The defendant's employment history and status.
- The period the defendant has resided in the community.
- Any other factor regarding the accused's community ties or bearing on the likelihood that the defendant may intentionally fail to show up in court.
A bail bond is also called a surety bond. It refers to a legal agreement binding a defendant, a bail bondsman, and a co-signer. In this agreement, a bondsman agrees to be responsible for the total bail value if the co-signer promises that the accused will appear on all court dates as required. Additionally, the co-signer must agree to be fully responsible for the full bail amount should the accused fail to present themself in court.
The Surety Bond Process
The bail bonds process involves numerous steps. If you have been arrested, the judge has set bail, and you need help paying the bail, the first step is contacting a Summerlin bail bonds service. The bail bondsman handling your case will ask you various questions regarding your arrest, and the process is officially begun.
The bondsman will draw up a bail contract and application using the info they obtained from you. Once you have completed the necessary paperwork and made the required payment, the bondsman will go to the jail facility holding you or the court to post bail on your behalf.
After the bail bondsman has posted the bond, the release process will start. The period it will take for you to be set free after posting bail is based on various factors, including the jail size and how staffed it is. If the facility is small or not crowded and has a lot of staff, it might take just two hours to be released. If it is on holidays or weekends and the facility has less staff or is dealing with several new cases, your release could take 12 hours.
How Much Does a Surety Bond Cost?
You must pay a certain fee to secure a surety bond from a Summerlin bail bonds service. The fee is called a premium and is usually 15 percent of the full bail amount. Also, this fee is neither negotiable nor refundable because it is the standard fee that Nevada law sets.
It is unlawful for any Summerlin bail bonds service to charge an amount higher than 15% or waive the charges. Some companies charge additional fees for given services, while others do not. You want to read through your bond contract carefully before signing it to know what additional fees the bail bondsman wants and the reason for charging you extra. Do not agree to transact with any bonds agency that charges beyond the 15 percent premium.
Arrests happen suddenly and can lead to financial strain. Because no one expects to be arrested, only a few people are prepared enough to face the situation. Additionally, only a few people are in a position to handle emergencies such as surety bond premiums. Some bail bond companies, therefore, make it easy for clients by agreeing to various payment options. Some companies also offer flexible payment plans for people who qualify.
Skipping Bail
Skipping bail is also called failing to appear. You could fail to make the required court appearances for valid reasons. If unavoidable circumstances prevent you from attending court, contact the court and your bondsman to explain your situation. But you should not make missing court dates a habit. Should you explain your reason for missing court beforehand, the court may reset your date of appearing and will not penalize you.
However, there will be repercussions if you miss court dates without notice or explanation. Missing court dates without a valid reason will lead to the judge seeing you as a fugitive, and they will issue a bench warrant against you. This means police officers will be out looking for you. If they track you down, they will take you back into custody. The judge will also revoke your bail.
Apart from the police looking for you, the bail bondsman can hire a bounty hunter also to track you down because their bond money is at stake— if you are not located, the bondsman will forfeit their bond money. If the bondsman loses their money because you failed to appear in court, they will hold your cosigner responsible for the total bail amount.
Some companies request collateral from the defendant so that if they forfeit the bond amount, they can sell the collateral to recover their money.
Bail Conditions
When a judge agrees to bail, they may impose reasonable conditions you must comply with as it is deemed necessary to protect the community's safety, health, and welfare. Examples of the conditions the judge may impose include:
- Not violating any other laws.
- Wearing electronic monitoring.
- Agreeing to random drug tests.
- Staying away from the supposed victim or particular locations.
- Not traveling to other countries, states, or counties.
- Refraining from particular conduct, like using drugs and drinking alcohol.
If you cannot afford bail, you have the right to request a hearing, in which the prosecutor has the burden of demonstrating by clear, convincing evidence that bail is needed to protect the victim and community and to ensure your appearance in court. Should the judge determine that it is necessary to set bail, they must consider your financial resources (plus the above-mentioned factors) when deciding the bail amount. Additionally, this reasoning should be stated on the record.
Should the judge agree to release you without bail, it is known as an OR (own recognizance) release. Judges usually grant an OR release for a good cause.
At times judges decline to grant bail at all. This generally happens in murder charges or when the accused is a safety or flight risk. If the judge refuses to grant bail, you will remain in custody until your case is resolved.
Benefits of Hiring a Summerlin Bail Bonds Service
Whenever you need assistance, a knowledgeable bail bondsman is always available; therefore, they will render it quickly. The following are ways your preferred Summerlin bail bonds service can assist you in securing your release from custody:
High Level of Reliability
If you need to post bail, you should go for a reliable bail bonds service and one with a good reputation. Not all bondsmen have these qualities, but most do. Whereas most bondsmen are interested in earning profits, they also want to abide by the law and not jeopardize their careers. Consequently, the bail bondsman you select, provided you choose one with a substantial number of client reviews, will keep their word and treat you fairly.
Multiple Services, Including Round-the-Clock Support
Bail bond agencies offer different services, including round-the-clock support, flexible payment plans, and multiple payment options. This is helpful because most people realize they may require the help of a bail bondsman at odd hours.
There are other advantages to working with a bonds agency for your bail needs, besides being available 24/7. Most bail bond agencies have affiliates throughout the U.S., meaning they can provide services in multiple languages.
Faster Release From Custody
After you have been arrested, you will need to wait for a court trial. This could take between a couple of days and several months. If you can make bail, you will wait for trial out of jail. But if you cannot post the whole bail amount, you will need to wait for your trial in court.
A bail bonds service can help you post any amount of bail and help you secure your release as efficiently and fast as possible so you can continue leading your life outside of jail. This is possible because bail bondsmen have broad connections within the criminal justice system, including with local judges and prosecutors. They know who they can talk to, how to post bail, and what must happen to have you released quickly.
Familiarity With the Bonds Process
Bail bond companies’ bondsmen have several years of experience assisting people out of challenging situations, making them the appropriate party to assist you. An experienced bondsman knows everything regarding posting bail. Therefore, they understand your situation and will guide you on the appropriate steps to follow concerning the bail bonds process.
Court Information
Las Vegas Municipal Court
Phone: 702-382-6878
Las Vegas Justice Court
Phone: 702-671-3116
North Las Vegas Justice Court
North Las Vegas, NV 89032, USA
Phone: 702-455-7801
Jail Information
Las Vegas Detention Center
Phone: 702-229-6444
Clark County Detention Center
Phone: 702-671-3900
Contact a Reputable Summerlin Bail Bonds Service Near Me
If you have been arrested in Summerlin but cannot afford to pay bail out of your pocket, we at Express Bail Bonds can help. We are available 24 hours a day, seven hours a week, to help clients secure their release as fast as possible, and our services are honest and professional. We are also conveniently located so our clients can access us quickly. We will accommodate your needs and remain confidential while handling your case. Contact us today at 702-633-2245, and we will attend to you immediately.