A bail bond is a bond provided by an insurance company through a bail bondsman acting as agent for the company, to allow an accused defendant to be released before trial. A bail bond is designed to ensure the appearance of the defendant in court at the scheduled time. Prior to the posting of a bail bond, the defendant or a co-signer must guarantee that they will pay the full amount of bail if the defendant does not appear in court. The bail bond company usually charges 10 percent of the amount of the bond and often requires the defendant to put up some collateral like a seconded of trust or mortgage on one's house.
When the case is concluded, the bail bond is "exonerated" and returned to the insurance company. If the defendant disappears and fails to appearing court (skips bail), the bond money will be forfeited unless the defendants found and returned. The bond may be forfeited, by order of the court, upon the partys failure to appear or to comply with the conditions of the bond. If the defendant is located and arrested by the bail agent the cosigner is responsible for all expenses the bail agent incurs while looking for the defendant.
A Pennsylvania Bail Bond Agreement is a legally binding document that outlines the terms and conditions under which a defendant can be released from jail before their trial, by paying a specified amount of money known as bail. This agreement is entered into between the defendant, the bail bondsman, and the court. Keywords: Pennsylvania, Bail Bond Agreement, defendant, jail, trial, bail, bail bondsman, court. There are several types of Pennsylvania Bail Bond Agreements available, including: 1. Cash Bail: This type of bail requires the defendant or their family/friends to pay the full bail amount in cash to the court. Once the case is resolved, and the defendant fulfills all the court’s requirements, the bail will be returned, minus any fees or fines. 2. Surety Bail: In this type of agreement, a bail bondsman acts as the surety and guarantees the full bail amount if the defendant fails to appear in court. To secure the bond, the defendant or their family/friends must pay a non-refundable fee, typically a percentage of the total bail amount, to the bail bondsman. The bail bondsman then posts the bond and ensures the defendant's release. 3. Property Bail: This type of bail allows the defendant to use their property, such as a house or land, as collateral to secure their release. The value of the property must be equal to or higher than the bail amount. Failure to appear in court may result in the forfeiture of the property. 4. Recognizance Release: In certain circumstances, the court may release a defendant on their recognizance, without requiring bail. This means the defendant is released based on their promise to appear in court as scheduled. Recognizance release is usually granted to individuals with a low flight risk, first-time offenders, or those accused of minor offenses. 5. Federal Bail Bonds: In cases involving federal crimes, such as drug trafficking, white-collar crimes, or terrorism, federal bail bonds may be required. These bonds are more complex and typically involve higher amounts of money. In summary, a Pennsylvania Bail Bond Agreement is a contract that allows a defendant's release from jail before their trial in exchange for payment of bail. Different types of agreements include cash bail, surety bail, property bail, recognizance release, and federal bail bonds.