Bail, bonds and conditions of release are terms that sometimes confuse people, especially if they have no prior experience with the criminal justice system. Bail is the same thing as the conditions of your release and might include paying a fee as well as abiding by any terms ordered by the court. A Tarrant County district judge, county judge, or municipal judge will set your bail at your arraignment or initial appearance. However, for lesser offenses in some jurisdictions, the arresting officer might set a reduced bail and release you directly from the police station without an initial appearance (i.e. pre-trial release). You should be aware that this is the exception and not the rule. Our Fort Worth TX criminal defense lawyer can provide you with a general idea of the amount of bail that you might need to pay.

The Role of a Bail Bond Agency

When the bail is quite high, a licensed bonding company will pay it on your behalf in return for a fee. Their agents understand the nuances of the court system and will likely be able to quickly secure your release once the bond is paid. When you pay the court directly, your money is refunded once the case ends. However, a bonding agency takes their fee, which can be significant, from the money paid. Our Fort Worth TX criminal defense attorney can help you weigh the benefits and disadvantages of using a bail bonding company.

Bounty Hunters

In addition, a bounty hunter or employee of the bail bonding company might take you into custody for failure to appear. However, arrests can lead to possibly disastrous outcomes as these individuals are not police officers and do not have the level of training or accountability of a professional law enforcement officer.

Our Fort Worth TX criminal defense lawyer will answer your questions about bail, bonds and conditions of release. For more information, call Bryan Hoeller at 877-208-3382.