What can you do when you get a call from some in jail in a different state? Below you will find valuable information on how bail works and what you can do to get someone out of jail, even from out-of-state.
In Washington the standard premium paid on a bail bond is 10% of the total bail amount. Therefore a bail amount set at $500 means a bail bondsman charges a $50 premium. A bail amount set at $5,000 means a bondsman charges a premium of $500. The bail bond agency keeps this premium pay their employees and keep their offices open.
When you get a call from a friend or family member from jail it can be overwhelming. You might be asking: "Can I afford bail? How can I find out what the bail amount is? Are there bail bonds companies that will work with me when cash is low?" These are all important questions.
When a friend or loved one is in jail it's important to consider all of your options. If someone is unable to post their full bail amount in cash, then using a bail bonds agency is likely the best option. By paying a 10% fee to the agency, the agency pays the court in full for the set bail amount and makes sure the defendant gets out of jail (often within hours).
Bail reform has been a major topic recently, with proponents arguing that financial resources should never determine whether someone awaits trial in or out of jail. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Washington offers a detailed review of how pretrial imprisonment affects defendants, both in terms of case outcomes and other negative impacts on their lives.
Google’s director of global product policy announced the company’s decision to prohibit ads that promote bail bond services in a blog post on May 8th. Facebook made a similar claim later that same day, although the company is apparently still working out the details.