You don’t usually get responses on Twitter that are worth confronting, much less writing a whole blog post about, but this one needs a few words.

Let me say this about social media in general: when you are in conversation with someone who is looking for an argument, do not respond. This also goes for bad reviews; say nothing in a public online forum: take it to email instead. This is basic, basic, public relations in the world of social media.

Now, let me discuss what bothers me about that response. It isn’t that the person made the comment, but it does lead me to question a few things.

1. Does this person understand our business?
2. Did this person have an awful experience with a bail bondsman?
3. What we see, and how we see it.

Let me go with #1 first.

Bail bonding allows for a suspect to have a pre-trial release. A judge offers a suspect bail, and we provide the full sum for a 10% fee. How is this the business of criminals? Bail bondsmen provide a service, integral to legal proceedings.

Does he mean that many of my peers have experienced the legal system first hand? Certainly, some of my colleagues have been in unfortunate positions for one reason or another, but that is not an indicator that they’re bad people. Even the most moral man can make mistakes, and end up facing criminal charges of one kind or another.

When you go to the doctor, do you want someone who hasn’t studied medicine to tell you what is wrong? Do you want that individual to have experience, and have had the opportunity to see your illness before? Yes, you do.

A bail bondsman who has been through the legal system understands it. He, or she, knows the importance of bail bonds from a personal perspective. That bondsman is qualified, and probably very motivated, to serve you.

Allow me to take the “criminal” issue from a different angle, for a moment.

Does bail offer a suspect the opportunity to commit another offense? Of course it does, but pre-trial release provides a chance for that person to make different choices. Bail is a challenge to the suspect: show the court that you are responsible, respectable, and capable of honoring your commitment to show up for your trial.

More than that, when someone is out on bail, they can choose to put their affairs in order, receive support from their loved ones, and truly make the most of their legal representation.

A bail bondsman is not responsible for the suspect’s behavior, and neither is his lawyer. The most we can do is advise against further negative choices.

Now, #2.

If this individual has had a poor experience with a bondsman, or the legal system in general, I feel for him. I’m sorry for what he endured, and wish it could have been different. However, trying to pick a fight on Twitter doesn’t speak well of his feelings. There are better forums for it.

Last, but not least, #3.

We are in court every day, and we see both sides of crime. A compassionate individual can feel for the suspects and the victims. We do see them. Thanks to the news, we read about the suffering of people who have been on the receiving end of criminal activity. We are equally aware of other issues, like punitive bail, and lack of true rehabilitation during incarceration.

It makes me, and I’m sure many of my peers, incredibly sad, but It is not our job to judge guilt or innocence. That is the province of our legal system that guarantees innocence until judged guilty by a jury of your peers.

We provide a service that comes before that trial, judgement, and sentencing. We have to be as unbiased as possible if we want to provide actual customer service.

I can promise that there are suspects that I would have difficulty working with, if I knew they committed the crime they’re accused of. Any moral person would.

We are, I assure you, a part of the legal system, not apart from it. Our service allows a person better access to their attorney, as I mentioned earlier. Remember, the right to an attorney is guaranteed by law. Working with a lawyer while detained in jail is difficult, and privacy to discuss sensitive issues could be compromised.

Let me say this again: determining guilt is not the job of the bail bondsman. We exist to assist the due process of law, without judgment. We chose to be a customer service, not in support of guilt, innocence, or the choices a suspect makes.

The post A response to a Tweet appeared first on Chances Bail Bonds.

Bail bonds can be expensive. We charge 10%, that’s the lowest allowable fee, by law. Still, that 10% can be more than a normal person can pay. We can take installment payments, but in bad situations, a client may not be able to manage a monthly bill. Our fee is not the end of the financial problems that arise from being held in jail and unable to afford bail; it is only the beginning.

Let’s take a look at legal fees for a moment. Some lawyers will charge a set amount for talking to you in the first place. That could be as low as a couple of hundred dollars, or up into thousands. On top of that, they charge hourly fees for their time, and their paralegal’s work, too.

When a suspect can’t afford the initial amount the court set for bail, their lawyer can file a bail motion later in the pre-trial process, and formally request that the bail bond cost be lowered for extenuating circumstances. The motion may not be successful, or the new amount may still be out of the individual’s reach.

Crafting a bond motion takes the lawyer’s time. His time always equals money. Suppose he charges $250 an hour for his time, and it takes him two hours to build the case for the motion. He hands his notes to his paralegal, and it takes her an hour to type up the material. For the sake of argument, the lawyer’s office charges $100 for a paralegal’s time. That’s $600, but it doesn’t end there.

(Did you know they might also charge their hourly fee for phone calls and emails?)

The lawyer takes the bond motion before the judge. How long does that take? Another hour or two? Add another $250 to $500 to that original $600. Already, extra money has been added to the individual’s bill, beyond the initial consultation fee.

Dollar signs mount, and the money missing from family funds starts to be felt in a big way.

When someone is living from paycheck to paycheck, or is the only member of the household who has a job, his or her family suffers the instant they can’t work. There may not be any savings to rely on, and that most recent paycheck disappears very quickly, because people need food on the table. Worse than that, an employer (depending on company rules, or local laws) can fire someone for absence from work, while that individual is being held in jail…unable to afford bail in order to be at work in the first place.

Like the NYT article says:

“Bail conditions are not supposed to be punitive. They are supposed to impose as little restriction as is needed to reasonably ensure that a defendant appears in court.” That is the spirit of the legal system,  but local laws may specify the bail amounts for certain crimes. Those bail conditions could be punitive, depending on the financial situation of the suspect, and the amount of money involved.

The legal world is debating situations where this is the case. We don’t know where the decisions will fall in this discussion, but we hope for an outcome that doesn’t penalize an offender. Fixing the problem might require an overhaul of the legal system as we know it, and that could take a very long time. What we do know is that people should make their voices heard.

Speak to your local government representatives and let them know how punitive bail conditions make you feel. Tell them you believe this hurts innocent family members, and increases the likelihood of more problems in your community. Enough people voicing their opinions can make it clear to elected officials that something needs to be done.

We may never be able to sufficiently impact what lawyers charge for their services, but we can choose legal representation that is more affordable when we have the opportunity. The choice of a lawyer, and the choice of a bail bondsman, who can work with you in your financial situation are vital to the due process of law that you are guaranteed.

Make good choices, and make them informed, with your eyes open.

I just found another excellent source for information about bond motions. Check it out!

The post New York Times article appeared first on Chances Bail Bonds.

An arrest in Virginia on suspicion of having committed a crime is not a direct trip from the squad car to a detention center. There are situations where someone can be released from jail prior to trial. The most likely forms of pre-trial release are personal recognizance and bail.

When someone is arrested for a crime in Virginia, they are brought before a Magistrate after being processed into holding. During that meeting, the Magistrate will discuss the nature of the crime, or crimes, that the arrestee is charged with, and set bail or release him on his own recognizance.

Release on personal recognizance may occur if the Magistrate decides that the suspect is of good character, not a danger to himself or others, and has significant ties to the community. This variety of furlough between trials makes the assumption that the accused will not flee, be responsible for appearing at future court dates, and be on his best behavior at all times.

A Magistrate who feels that personal recognizance is too liberal for the suspect, may want to offer pre-trial release with financial motivation to return for upcoming court appearances. This is what is known as “bail.”

Bail is a method of insuring that a suspect will return for court dates. A dollar value is assigned to the crime by the Magistrate—whether by state-determined schedules, or other means—and presented as an alternative to being held in jail. If the accused can offer that sum to the court, he will be released on his own responsibility to appear for further court appearances.

In many cases, regardless of how reasonable the bail amount may be, the accused may not have the liquid assets to cover it. Collateral is then required by the court to cover the full amount of the bail bond.

Forms of collateral include:

1. Surety Bonds-in this case, the family agrees to pay 10% of the bail cost to a bail bondsman, who will provide the full sum to the court
2. Property Bond-the guarantors of the bail put up their property as collateral. A lien is placed on that property; if the accused does not appear for trial, the court may order the property to be foreclosed
3. Home-this is when they offer their home for payment purposes. Normally, the court will require that the property value have 150% equity. The home will be sold to pay the bail.
4. Land-the client’s land is offered to the court, which sells it in order to cover the cost of bail
5. Bank accounts-the individual or family turns over all or part of their bank account balance to cover the bail
6. Car-this works just like houses and land
7. Jewelry-the party offers their jewelry for appraisal, and it is handed over to the court for sale to secure the bond
8. Firearms-just like jewelry, if they’re in good condition
9. Items that can be pawned-this includes anything that has enough monetary value to be offered to a pawnshop
10. Cash-the guarantor pays the full amount in cash, or when the court will accept it, credit cards or checks

Many people do not realize that bail bonds are not a price paid to be released until trial; it is simply a form of insurance. Bail collateral is held, not spent. If the defendant returns for his trial dates, the bail amount will be refunded to him.

On the other hand, if he decides to run away, the bail funds are forfeit and will not be returned. This means that any form of collateral that is presented, house, land, car, or otherwise, will be sold to cover the bond.

The defendant or his family may choose to acquire the services of a bail bondsman if they would rather not risk their other assets. A bail bondsmen will, for a fee (as little as 10% of the bail amount), pay the court the entire sum required to cover the bond for pre-trial release.

Again, if the defendant chooses to flee rather than appear for court, the bail amount is seized by the court. Unfortunately, when bail has been posted with a bondsman, he is the one who takes the loss. By signing an agreement with the bail bondsman, the defendant and/or his family become responsible for paying back the entire amount of the bail bond to their service provider.

In every case when a defendant flees, there are costly repercussions. Whomever posted the bail loses their property, or finds himself, or herself, in debt to a bondsman. Bail forfeiture will appear on credit records and criminal records. This is a consequence that could linger longer than the defendant’s debt to society, whether it is a jail sentence, probation, community service, fines, or a combination of all four.

The Magistrate, having reviewed both options for releasing the accused before his court appearances, may decide to keep him in custody. While this is often disappointing and very stressful, it isn’t the end of the process. There are other opportunities to be granted bail other than the initial hearing.

An attorney will advise his client when a bail motion may be presented to the judge during a subsequent court appearance. A bail motion is a formal request for the judge to reconsider offering pre-trial release to the defendant. If it is granted, and bail is set, the process of providing the funds to the court begins again.

It is our hope that you will not find yourself or a loved one in any of these situations, but we would like to leave you with a few words of advice. Choose a bail bondsman the same way you would an attorney: experience matters, and trust is vital. Both an attorneys and bondsmen have your best interests at heart; they understand the consequences that you may not see in the heat of the moment and will offer you the best information they can.

The post Pre-Trial Release appeared first on Chances Bail Bonds.

We’ll present a few situations where an arrested friend reaches out to you, and what you can do when a problem like this comes up.

You get a call from jail asking for help

1. Get the contact information from the jail he’s in
   1. Write it down, people will need this
2. Ask him what he needs from you
   1. Call a lawyer
   2. Get a bail bondsman on the case
   3. Call his family, significant other…only if he asks you to
3. After you get off the phone
   1. Do what he asks you to

Another possibility: you might be with him when the arrest happens

1. Keep calm and say nothing, but:
   1. You can tell your friend to call you from jail
      1. You’ll be his legs outside to do what he needs
2. Take note of the officer’s name, and the location where the arrest happened
   1. Your friend will be taken to the nearest police station for processing
      1. Do a quick search to find out where that is
      2. You could also ask one of the officers, but be polite about it
3. When your friend calls you, do what he asks

This can be tricky, because you might have been there when the alleged crime took place. The police will probably ask YOU to come down to the station and answer questions. You’re going to need a lawyer, too. Be sure to say, respectfully, that you are willing to answer questions when you have a lawyer present. Then set an appointment with the officer to meet and discuss the events.

Unless you are a suspect in the crime and being arrested, they will not read you your Miranda Rights. Anything you say prior to answering questions with a lawyer present will be something the officer makes notes about. Those notes could be admissible as evidence. This is why you’re going to need to talk to his lawyer before you talk to the police; you might be an important witness for the defense.

One of the most difficult situations is finding out from other people that your friend has been arrested. Of course, you want to help out, but you don’t even know where he is.

1. Check https://vadoc.virginia.gov/offenders/locator/ or http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/inmate/ in Maryland
   1. Call the facility and ask if you can meet with your friend during visiting hours
2. If they allow you to come in during visiting hours
   1. Ask him what needs to be done
      1. Does he have a lawyer?
         1. If so, contact the attorney
         2. If not, find him one, unless a public attorney has already been assigned to him
      2. Does he want his family informed?
      3. Has he spoken to a bail bondsman if bail has been set?
         1. Does he have resources to meet bail himself?
         2. Does he need financial help?
   2. DO NOT
      1. Ask about the charges or circumstances
         1. He’s been read his Miranda Rights, and visits are likely to be recorded
            1. Do not let him incriminate himself
   3. Do contact his lawyer
      1. Ask what you can do for your friend in this situation
      2. Offer to be a character witness if needed

The last scenario we want to talk about is what to do if you’re arrested with him. This is tough, because you have to help yourself FIRST. This doesn’t mean you don’t care about your friend, but you can’t do anything for him unless your situation is secure. We discuss being arrested on our blog  http://chancesbailbonds.com/being_arrested/. Be sure to check it out, so you know what might happen.

Do your best. This is going to be rough, no matter which of these situations you’re in, but your friend will appreciate you for it later. We are here to help you if you need bail bonds services, or someone to point you in the right direction, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The post What to do When a Friend is Arrested appeared first on Chances Bail Bonds.

Warrant Turn In

Here’s the situation. You discover there’s a warrant for your arrest and you consider turning yourself in, even if you don’t have all the information. There are steps you need to take before calling the police or walking into the local police station.

Speak to a lawyer. If you do this before you respond to that warrant, you have the opportunity to choose a legal representative you trust. A lawyer will help you make better decisions, he will uncover the details of the warrant, and offer you advice about how to proceed.

You want to do this ahead of time, because contacting an attorney while you’re being held is more difficult because you are under an immense amount of pressure to make a decision quickly.

Depending on the reason you haven’t been informed about your court date or warrant, the judge may already have set a bond for you. Your lawyer will find this out, too, and inform you. This gives you the chance to contact a bail bondsman ahead of incarceration, or to gather the funds on your own.

From this point, it is up to you to actually turn yourself in. Call your local sheriff, and wait patiently for them to arrive. During arrest, be polite and respectful.

You will be read your Miranda Rights, and then transported to the police station. Even if you have been in this position before, arrest is a stressful situation, and you MUST remember not to resist, or answer questions.

The Miranda Rights give you the legal right to not answer questions without an attorney present. Anything and everything you say regarding your case can be used against you during your court appearance. Please remember these rights are not a joke.

Another reason you may turn yourself in is when you report for a jail sentence after conviction. There are things to remember in this case also. Be on time. Do not carry weapons, jewelry, or anything other than your wallet when you appear for processing. Make absolutely sure you have identification: your drivers license or some form of photo id, cash or credit cards you might need to post bail, prescription medications in their original packages, glasses (if you wear them), and a copy of the sentencing order.

Always, always be courteous and polite.

Good behavior always helps you, no matter which of these warrant turn in situations happens. It may not change the problem, but it can change the stress level and how your are treated by the legal system.

Please remember us if you ever find yourself in need of bail bonds or information. We are here to help you. That is our mission.

The post Warrant Turn In appeared first on Chances Bail Bonds.

We think that being arrested ranks right up there in the worst experiences a person can go through. How you respond to the experience, in that situation, can create more trouble for you than you might realize.

A drunk, high, or frightened person can make poor decisions, and have no ability to cope with being arrested in a rational manner. This blog post is for the people who can think with a clear head during this process.

Here are a few links that have good information. We’ll summarize our feelings after them.

How to deal with police: http://www.rense.com/general72/howto.htm

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok3Kh8726m8

Another excellent video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmtIizXdh88

Here’s some truth about DUI arrests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpi6tJYwyDU the audio is a little off, but the advice is good.

What we know at Chances Bail Bonds:

1. A police officer’s job is to arrest you to keep you from being a danger to yourself and others. They are very serious about this.
2. The police will treat you differently if you have a previous record, or are pending charges on a different case.
3. Be cool, do not get upset.
4. Do not get violent, they will respond with rougher treatment.
5. Always, always be polite
6. Do not, under any circumstances, discuss anything with the police before or after your Miranda Rights.
7. If you are asked questions and you need say something, this is it: “Officer, I will make a statement after consulting with a lawyer. Thank you.” We can’t stress this enough, do not discuss the charges until after you have spoken to a lawyer.
8. Continue to be cool, even if you are really upset. You can freak out all you want after you have obtained bail.

The absolute best thing you can do, just like with a fist fight, is not to be there in the first place. Don’t become a criminal. You’ve got other choices, use them.

We hope you don’t end up dealing with an arrest, but we are here to help you if the magistrate grants you bail. Contact us 24/7.

The post Dealing with being arrested appeared first on Chances Bail Bonds.