If someone you know was arrested in Las Vegas, he or she doesn’t want to sit in jail until a hearing. The one way to get someone released from jail is to post bond. Most people don’t have the spare cash needed to fulfill bail.
Las Vegas bail bonds offer an alternative solution. If you’ve never navigated the judicial system before, you might not know much about bail or bail bonds.
The process can seem overwhelming, but with some background information, you will have all the information you need to get your loved one out of jail fast.
Understanding What Bail Is and How It Works
Sometimes, when a person is arrested for a crime, he or she cannot get out of jail until bail is posted. This means that someone has to pay money, either using cash or, more often, with Las Vegas bail bonds. Bail allows defendants to remain free until the conclusion of their criminal case. There are usually bail conditions set, meaning that defendants are not quite as free as before their arrest.
Bails are not set as a form of punishment. Instead, they are seen as a way to make sure the defendants show up in court when they’re supposed to. They also help keep jails from becoming overcrowded with people waiting for the conclusion of their criminal cases. When defendants fulfill their court obligations throughout their case, they meet the terms of bail. If cash is paid, the bail money is returned in full.
What Happens During an Arrest?
When people are arrested, they are taken into custody, booked on charges for whatever crimes they are accused of, and placed in jail or a criminal processing facility. Once the booking process is complete, one of three different immediate outcomes is possible. The defendant is:
- Given a written notice to appear before the courts and then released.
- Held in custody until bail is posted, usually with cash or Las Vegas bail bonds.
- Held in custody until a bail hearing is completed.
Which of these three occurs is generally outlined in Nevada Statute 179. For first offenses on relatively minor cases, the defendant may not have to post bail. If the crime is serious or the defendant is a repeat offender, then it’s likely the court will demand a hearing before bail is set.
How Much Does the Court Charge for Bail?
The state’s statutes establish bail for specific crimes, but if the defendant has to show up for a bail hearing, the judge may set a bail that is different from what is outlined in the law. This is perfectly legal, as the statute gives the court this power. At a bail hearing, the defending and prosecuting attorneys argue their cases for whether or not the defendant should be allowed to post bail and how much it should be. The judge considers several factors, including:
- How long defendants have been members of their community
- Whether defendants are flight risks
- The defendants’ employment status and history
- What type of connection defendants have with family and friends
- How serious the charges are
- Whether defendants pose a danger to others or themselves
- The defendants’ criminal history
Bail amounts can vary, but it isn’t uncommon for it to be several thousand dollars. Serious felonies can be even more, reaching up into the range of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Understanding Las Vegas Bail Bonds and Why It’s Good To Use a Bonding Company
When defendants or their loved ones cannot afford to pay the bail in cash, the best route is to purchase a bail bond. The courts accept this form of payment to release a defendant from jail. Bail bonds in Las Vegas are sold by bail bond agencies. These companies pay bail on behalf of the defendant. When the company pays the bail, it acts as the surety, meaning that the company agrees to pay the full amount of the bail if the defendant fails to show up for court.
How Do You Get a Bail Bond?
To purchase a bail bond, defendants — or someone acting on their behalf — pay the bail bondsman a fee. Nevada Statute 697 regulates bonding agencies in Nevada. It establishes the rate agencies can charge for bail bonds, which is 15% of the loan amount. No company can legally charge any more or any less than that amount. This fee is non-refundable, but it saves you (or the defendant) from having to come up with the entire amount of bail.
To obtain a bail bond, you (or the defendant) must sign a contract agreeing to the terms of the bond. Depending on how much the bond is, you may also be required to put up collateral.
What Are the Benefits of Bail Bonds?
Even if you have the cash on hand to cover the bond, Las Vegas bail bonds provide one significant advantage: You do not have to be out the money for the bond. This is particularly appealing when the bail is set at a high dollar amount. Additionally, it takes minutes for a bond dealer to create the bond so that the defendant can get out of jail fast. No need to wait for the banks to open or hunt down other family or friends to help come up with the bond money.
Though cash bails are returned in full once the case is resolved, it can take anywhere from months to years to reach completion. That means that whoever posted bail is out the money for that entire time. If you or the defendant must put up collateral for the bail bond, that collateral is released once the defendant meets all court obligations.
Get Las Vegas Bail Bonds From a Trusted Agency
All n One Bail Bonds is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When you need to get a loved one out of jail fast, you can count on us for quick service. It usually takes three to four hours from when you apply to the time the defendant is released. All n One Bail Bonds is reliable and fair. We work with applicants to establish flexible payment programs that meet their needs. Get in touch with one of our agents today if you have any questions or need assistance applying for Las Vegas bail bonds.
