- The person bailing the defendant out of jail is required to pay a percentage of the posted bond. This is a premium. The premium is nonrefundable. The full amount of the bond is required if the bond is a cash-only bond.
- After paying the premium, a bondsman covers the rest of the bond amount. A contract is created and signed between the bondsman and the person bailing the defendant out of jail. This contract guarantees that the defendant will appear at all of his court hearings. If he does not, the bond money is forfeited.
- Bondsmen have the right to ask questions about the defendant including his name, social security number, what he is being charged with and which jail he is located in. A bondsman has the right to deny a bond request and/or revoke the bond if he believes that the defendant may not appear in court.
- If a defendant skips bail, the surety company pays the agency that arrested the defendant. The bondsman is then required to pay the company. Bondsmen will then attempt to collect the money from the co-signer of the contract. Bounty hunters are then contacted in order to apprehend the defendant.
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