In Texas, courts follow a bond schedule that provides guidelines on bail amounts based on the nature of the offense. Nevertheless, judges and magistrates have the discretion to alter these amounts based on specific case details. Factors influencing bail determinations include: The seriousness of the offense.
The defendant can post their own bail or ask a family member or friend to post it. If the defendant uses a bond company, the company may require the defendant to have a co-signer (someone who will help the company find the defendant should they fail to appear).
For many misdemeanor crimes, bail will be based on established amounts. For other crimes, the judge will set bail at an appropriate amount for the alleged crime, keeping in mind that, under the U.S. Constitution, it's illegal to set bail excessively high to force a person to remain in jail.
A person's eligibility to be bonded may depend on their history, the job for which they're applying and the state in which they live, with each state having its own requirements. That being said, having a clean criminal record can greatly improve your eligibility for being bonded.
A bail bond is a surety bond, which is posted by a bail bond company to the court as a guarantee for an arrestee's appearance at all court dates. The court will release an arrestee from detention upon posting of the bail bond.
A bond's credit quality is usually determined by independent bond rating agencies, such as Moody's Investors Service, Inc., and Standard & Poor's Corporation (S&P). These agencies classify bonds into 2 basic categories—investment-grade and below-investment-grade—and provide detailed ratings within each.
By securing a bond from a surety, you are demonstrating your willingness to assume responsibility for any legal/financial issues that might arise as a result of wrongdoing on your part. Another major difference between being insured and being bonded involves reimbursement.