Roughly 10.5 million people are arrested in the United States every year. These arrests encompass everything from violent crimes to ignoring traffic tickets.
No matter what you’ve been arrested for, the feeling of being processed and thrown in jail is the same. It’s a feeling of uncertainty, regret and in many cases, fear.
Fortunately, there are ways to get out of jail a lot sooner than when you hear the final verdict on your case. The best way to get out of jail quickly is by posting bail.
Bail is a sum of money that you pay as collateral in exchange for your release. If you show up to your trial dates, you’ll get your bail amount back. If you try to flee, your bail is lost and you’ll be in a lot more trouble when caught.
Bail bonds companies help families that don’t have cash on-hand post bail. Below are a few things that you should look for when selecting the best bail bonds business to work with.
1. Always Opt for 24/7
It’s standard in the bail bonds industry that businesses should be open 24/7. While this is common practice, not all bondsman abide by those hours of operation and in our opinion, those operations should be avoided.
Being open 24/7 speaks to the commitment that a bonds company has to ensure that their clients are well taken care of.
That commitment is something that you’re going to want on your side while you’re struggling through your arrest and consequently, it’s not something that you should compromise on.
2. See Who Detention Officers Recommend
If you or a loved one is needing to find a reputable bail bonds company in a pinch, detention officers might have a team that they can recommend.
Detention officers are in charge of ensuring that jail operations run smoothly and oversee many different aspects of jailing procedures including the bonding process.
A helpful detention officer can let you know which company tends to bond out most of their inmates which could turn out to be a helpful lead for you.
3. Make Sure That They’re Sporting a Good Reputation
The internet is insanely helpful when it comes to quickly deducing the reputation of a business. All you have to do is hop on a website like Yelp and see what a business’ former customers have to say about them.
We always recommend that you give your business to bail bonds companies that have a 4-star review or higher and have at least 10 customers that have reviewed them.
If a bail bondsman that you’re considering doesn’t have an online review profile, head over to their website to see if they have any testimonials to share.
4. Pick a Business That Has a Fair Interest Rate
If you’re not familiar with the bail bonds process, the way it goes is as follow:
You or a loved one are jailed and may be eligible for bail which is set at a price that varies based on your crime and flight-risk. A bail bondsman can then pay that bail on your behalf which they will later recollect when you show up to court.
In exchange for this loan, your bail bondsman will charge you a percentage of the bail’s total amount.
You’ll want to make sure that the fee your bail bondsman charges is in line with what other companies are charging in the area. If you’re finding that the bonds company you’re considering is charging above average interest, look elsewhere.
5. Check for a License
You can’t just wake up one morning and start a bail bonds business. All bondsman need to be properly licensed by their state.
As a matter of fact, we always recommend that the first question you ask a bail bondsman is if they’re licensed to practice. If you get any answer other than “absolutely” take your search elsewhere or risk getting scammed.
6. Select a Bondsman with Experience in Your Area
There’s nothing wrong with being or doing business with a new bondsman. Everybody has to start somewhere.
If you can avoid it though, we recommend not letting a bondsman get their start on your case.
Why? Because knowledge is power in the bail bonds industry and the more your bondsman knows about how things work in your part of town, the faster they’re going to be able to get you out of jail.
For that simple reason, always inquire about your bondsman’s experience bonding people out of your jail.
7. Go with a Company That Cares
Being put in jail makes for a really hard moment in a person’s life.
You get that. We get that. Your bail bonds company should get that as well.
If you’re talking to your bail bondsman and they seem more concerned about pushing a sale than they are with helping you get back on track, you’re probably not talking to the right company.
Companies like AA-Action Bail Bonds and others with professional looking websites, thought-provoking mission statements and people that are always available to help you are who you want in your corner during this dark time.
Believe us when we say that a little compassion from your bond company will go a long way in making you feel good about buying their services.
Closing out What to Look for When Choosing a Bail Bonds Company
There are a lot of bail bonds companies out there. Not all of them deserve your business.
Use our tips above to suss out the good from the bad and we’re sure that you’ll end up working with a company that can take you by the hand and help you navigate this tricky life circumstance.
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