In most cases, when someone is arrested and placed in custody, they will have the option to post bail. Bail is simply a set amount of money paid to the court to ensure that the person shows up for their court date.
In some cases, the bail amount can be quite high, making it difficult for the individual or their family to come up with the money. This is where bail bonds come in. This helpful video does a great job of explaining the bail bond process in an easy-to-understand way.
A bail bond is a loan used to cover the cost of bail. If the defendant cannot afford the bail amount, they can reach out to a bail bond company. The bail bond company will pay the bail for the defendant, and in exchange, the company will charge the defendant a non-refundable fee (usually around 10% of the bail amount).
If the defendant does show up for court, the bail money is returned to the bail bond company. If the defendant does not appear, the court will issue a warrant for their arrest, and the bail bond company will try to locate and bring the defendant to court.
