Your Felony Bail And Bail Bond Guide
If you get arrested on felony charges, you may have a lot of questions, like if you can be released on bail. The legal process is slow and stressful, but bail allows people the chance to return home to await their trial. This gives them the opportunity to continue working and spend time with their family before the trial.
Can You Be Released on Bail?
The court may grant bail for both misdemeanors and felonies. The courts may deny bail, however, if they view you as a flight risk or danger to society. They may also be less inclined to offer bail if you:
- Have little to no ties to the community
- Have no family in the area
- Have no job
- Have a history of violent crimes
- Have a history of skipping hearings
Typically, you must pay money or offer collateral to post bail. For felonies, this amount can be five to ten times higher than the bail set for misdemeanors. Bail schedules are commonly used to determine bail. They have a list of common crimes and the suggested bail.
Can You Still Work With a Bail Bond Agent?
Bail bond agents offer bail bonds for people who have been arrested for misdemeanors and felonies. If you don't have enough cash or collateral for bail, you can take out a surety loan with a bail bond agent. The bail bond agent pays the courts the total bail amount on your behalf. This money is returned to them after you attend your hearing. You will need to pay a small non-refundable fee to the bail bond agent for their services.
In most cases, you will need a cosigner for your bail bond. The cosigner takes responsibility for the loan if you don't attend your hearing. This protects the bail bond agent from losing money if you skip your hearing.
Are There Special Rules or Regulations for Felony vs. Misdemeanor?
Depending on the crime, you may have more conditions to follow if you've been arrested for a felony vs. a misdemeanor. Conditions are set by the court, and you must follow them while out on bail. If the court finds out you broke your bail conditions, they may revoke your bail. If your bail bond cosigner finds out you broke your conditions, they may revoke their agreement to be your cosigner.
Most conditions include:
- Obeying all laws
- Avoiding drug use
- Following a curfew
- Seeking/maintaining employment
- Not possessing weapons
- Avoiding certain people like alleged victims and co-conspirators
If you've been arrested for a felony, don't worry. You can still qualify for bail and get a felony bail bond. If you would like to know more, contact a bail bond agent today.
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