If you’re interested in a career in Virginia bail bonds, there’s much to learn about the field. Of course, you need some understanding of how police operate and the judicial system works.
You also need to be prepared to see and hear about all kinds of problems people have created for themselves. People get arrested every day for committing low-risk crimes to be accused of felonious crimes.
As there are so many different types of crime and arrests, so too, are there different bail bonds in Virginia. The type of bail and its cost will be dependent on the type of crime and the risk associated with the accused.
Read on to learn more about the different types of bail bonds in Virginia.
What Is Bail?
Let’s start with the basics. Bail is set for someone after they’ve been arrested. Surely, you’ve seen enough crime drama television to know that once arrested, the accused gets booked and brought before a judge to consider bail.
Getting bail means they provide something, usually money, in exchange for being released from jail. Once the funds get paid, they are promising to show up for future court appearances until their case is closed.
There are a few ways bail can get handled. For some minor crimes, a person might be released on personal recognizance bail. This means they are simply signing and assuring the court they will be present for future court hearings.
Most people, however, will have to pay bail money to be released. The amount again depends on the type of bail, the risk for releasing the person, and their criminal history.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the types of bail.
Cash Bond
If the accused isn’t released on their own recognizance, then they’ll be required to pay a cash bond. This means the court sets a number that must be paid before they can be released from jail.
The more severe the crime or the worse the criminal history, typically the higher the cash bond. If the accused shows up for all required court appearances, their cash bond can get returned to them minus court costs.
Surety Bond
A surety bond is one of the most common types of bail bonds in Virginia. In a surety bond, there are three parties involved. Bail is the agreement that the accused makes to fulfill their legal obligations.
However, if those obligations aren’t met, then the surety agrees to pay the bond in full. Often the bail is set and only a percentage of it is paid to the court. If the accused doesn’t show up for court, then the surety must pay the full amount.
The bail bonds agent acts as the surety guaranteeing the bond. It’s also the reason they work with the accused to make sure they make it to their court appearances.
Federal Bail Bond
If the accused has been arrested for a federal crime, the bail will be set by a federal court instead of by the State of Virginia court.
As the state courts, federal courts will consider the severity of the crime and the flight risk of the accused. You should be prepared that federal court bail is usually set much higher than state-level bail amounts.
Immigration Bail
An immigration bail bond is needed when an illegal person gets arrested by ICE or the Customs Enforcement department. These bonds work the same way but the arrested must guarantee that they will do certain things.
They must promise to show up for any court appearances or immigration hearings. If a meeting is requested by ICE they must also show up. If they don’t show up, then they would be arrested and the bond would be revoked.
Immigration bail is a little rarer to get because of the potential flight risk associated with an illegal in the country.
DUI Bail
When arrested for a DUI charge, the accused would seek a DUI bail bond. If they are granted a DUI bail bond, they must pay the bail in exchange for release from jail while awaiting their court hearing. When they pay their DUI bail often they’re asked to are to certain things like:
- Attending drug or alcohol classes
- Not entering an establishment that serves alcohol
- Submitting to regular drug and alcohol testing
If they broke any of those promises or didn’t appear in court when they should then bail would be revoked and they’d be taken back to jail.
Domestic Violence Bail
This type of bail is more complicated because it involves the safety of another person. If a person has been arrested on domestic violence charges, the judge will consider the risk factors for the victim. Will releasing the accused put the victim in danger again?
It’s likely before domestic violence bail is granted, there will also be a restraining order issued. If the accused violates the restraining order, the judge will revoke the bail and bring the accused back into custody.
Weapon Bail Bonds
In a weapons charge, before bail is granted, the judge will consider the safety of others before relating the accused on bail. One thing that often happens on a weapons charge is that the accused must forfeit all weapons to authorities before bail will be considered.
Property Bail Bonds
When writing bail for someone, the bail bonds officer must first obtain collateral to secure the bond. In many cases, this means the accused or someone acting on their behalf uses a piece of property as collateral for the bail.
If the accused doesn’t meet their obligations, the bail bonds can take the property that’s been used as collateral.
Types of Bail Bonds in Virginia
There are several different types of bail bonds in Virginia. If you’re considering a career in bail bonds, it’s important you understand the unique features of all different kinds of bail. It will help you as you consider the risk of paying the bail of your customers.
For more information on the bail bonds business, we can help. Check out our information and learn how to apply today.