Jargons aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. Industry-specific words or phrases can be quite tough for an ordinary person to understand. This is because they don’t have enough understanding of that particular field. Therefore, using industry-specific terminology in your conversations or writings is not advisable as it makes it difficult for your audience to understand the message you’re trying to convey.
Similarly, there are words and terms used in the field of Law that you might have heard but don’t understand what they mean. Words like bail, bail bonds, or a bail bonds agency are very common to the ear, but there are some other terminologies related to them that might be very alien to a lot of us. Let’s take a look at a few of those.
Bail
Bail is a sum of money posted by the defendant to be released from custody until their trial.
Bail Bond
A bail bond is an agreement between the defendant and the court, or the defendant, a bail bonds agent, and the court. It is signed by the defendant to give assurance that they will appear in all the court hearings and proceedings. It is also known as “appearance bond.”
Bail Bondsman
An agent or a person assigned to guarantee a defendant’s appearance at all scheduled court dates. If using a bail bonds agency, the defendant will pay them a fee for their services. They might also be required to pay collateral to the agency or have the bond co-signed.
Bond Premium
It is a fee that the defendant pays to the bondsman to get the bail bond. It is usually 10% of the total bail amount. The premium amount depends on which state you live in, but most states like Indiana have a 10% fee.
Bond Indemnitor
Usually a third-party, a Bond Indemnitor is also known as a co-signer or a guarantor. They guarantee that the person convicted will appear for all the hearings and will often put down collateral as well.
Federal Bonds
They are bail bonds for criminal cases in the U.S district courts, which also include interstate crimes. The amount is typically higher due to the risk and complexity involved in processing a federal bond.
Forfeiture
Takes place when the defendant fails to show up for a court appearance and the bondsman is forced to pay the full bail amount. In rare cases, the bail bonds company will hire a person known as “The bounty hunter” to keep track of the defendant.
Immigration Bonds
They are bail bonds used for detainees held by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It gives assurance that the immigrant will attend all the court hearings on their scheduled date.
Skipping Bail
This refers to a defendant intentionally not showing up for a court hearing to avoid getting re-arrested. If the person doesn’t show up, the judge can order a bench warrant and charge the full amount of bail from the bondsman.
If you’re still unable to understand the jargons used in Law and want to understand which bond can help you or your loved one, then seeking help from a bail bonds agent or a bail bonds agency would be the best option.
DeLaughter Bail Bonds is an affordable bail bonds company located in North Manchester, Indiana. We are not limited to just Indiana but serve in more than 14 counties throughout the state. We have helped countless people get the justice they deserve for over 11 years now.
Contact us today and breathe the free air you deserve.
