How Does Bail Work? - 49th Street Bail Bonds

How Can a Clearwater, Florida Bail Bondsman Get Me Out of Jail?

A bail bond is one way for a defendant to get out of jail quickly as opposed to sitting in a jail cell until their court appearance which could be anywhere from a few days to weeks, to months or years. Bail will range in cost depending on the severity of the charge. Not all defendants are granted the opportunity to bail from jail in Clearwater, Florida.

As a Clearwater, Florida bail bonds agency we in essence loan defendants the money (a.k.a. a bail bond) to bond from jail. A bail bond in essence is a loan to be paid back and serves as a guarantee to the court that the defendant will show up for their scheduled court date. The defendant also offers up some form of collateral to the bail bondsman in the event the court date is missed and the bail money is not refunded, the defendant will owe the money back to the bail bondsman or the collateral is seized.

How Can I Pay For a Bail Bond In Florida?

If a defendant is given the opportunity to bail from a Florida jail, they can either pay for their own bail, borrow from a friend or family member, or borrow from a bail bondsman. When a defendant posts bail from a Florida jail they are making a promise to attend their scheduled upcoming court appearance. If they do not show up for their scheduled court date a warrant will likely be issued for their arrest. In the state of Florida, if a defendant skips their court appearance they could be charged with a new and separate offense of Failure to Appear. This type of charge carries the potential sentence of additional jail time.

Can I Miss My Court Date in Florida If I Do Not Have a Felony Charge?

No! Whether you have a felony charge, a misdemeanor, or an infraction if you are required to attend a court appearance in Florida you must show up! If you do not appear in court on your scheduled date and time, law enforcement may issue a warrant for your arrest, and you could find yourself back in a Florida jail. It does not matter if you were arrested in Clearwater, Dunedin, Bellair, Bellair Bluffs, Indian Rocks Beach, Bellair Beach, Largo, Bellair Shore, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor or anywhere else in the state of Florida, if you are given a court date you must appear.

What Are The Factors That Determine If I Am Eligible For Bail?

There are several factors that a court will consider when deciding if a defendant is eligible for bail.

Some of those factors include:

1) The defendant’s previous record of abiding by bail conditions

2) The nature of the crime and how serious it is

3) The character of the defendant, past criminal record, community ties

4) The strength of the evidence

If I Pay a Bail Bondsman To Bail Me Out of Jail Will I Get My Money Back?

Typically when you hire a bail bondsman in Clearwater, Florida you will not be refunded the percentage charged by the bail bondsman for fulfilling your bond. A bail bonds agency charges a fee based on the cost of the bond. The fee is a percentage of the total bond.

If I Pay My Bond Directly To The Court Will I Get My Money Back?

In the case where you pay the court directly for your bond you generally will receive most of your money back, less any court fees applied.

Can a bail bond be written over the phone?

Yes, we will communicate with clients over the phone.

Paperwork will be filled out and exchanged over e-mail for COVID safety.