If you are arrested and taken into custody, you will be transported to the jail where you will be booked. You will typically appear before a judge who will determine whether the charges are appropriate to allow release on bail. The judge will set a bail amount based on factors, such as the seriousness of the offense, your criminal history and whether you are a flight risk. The purpose of bail is to guarantee your appearance at all court hearings through trial. Once a bail amount has been established, someone may post bail on your behalf with the court. Frequently, the full bail amount can be quite substantial so most people cannot afford to post the full cash amount.
If you are unable to pay cash for the bail amount, you may have someone pay a bail bondman to post a bond on your behalf. The person who works with the bail bondsman will pay the bail bondsman 10% of the bail amount as a fee for his service. There is usually no refund of the bail bondsman’s fee. T
The bond that the bail bondsman arranges for your bail is a guarantee that you will show up for all court appearances through trial. If you fail to appear, a bench warrant will be issued, and the bondsman may lose the amount put up for your bail. This is the risk that bail bonds companies take which is why they typically require a security interest, such as in a residence. If you do not show up for a scheduled court hearing not only may you have a bench warrant issued and an additional misdemeanor charge for failure to appear, but the bail bond company may hire a bounty hunter to track your down and bring you back to jail. After you are back in custody, the bail bond will be exonerated and the bail bondsman is no longer responsible for the full amount of the bail.
If the bail bond person is not able to locate a person who fails to appear within 6 months, the bondsman will have to pay the court the full amount of the bail plus additional court costs. The bondsman also has the right to file a civil suit to recover the bail amount. The bail bondsman can also pursue action to recover the bail amount against the person who signed the bail contract and put up the security interest.
Many people needlessly remain in custody because they do not seek out the services of an experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney to help them secure their release from jail or a reduction in the bail amount. If you are arrested, the sooner you contact a Pittsburgh defense attorney the sooner the attorney can seek a bail reduction or other alternative that can get you released from custody. If you are arrested for a Pennsylvania misdemeanor or felony offense, you should contact us today.
With a focus on thorough preparation, superior client service and dedicated representation, I help families and individuals solve a wide range of DUI and criminal litigation issues.
I will respond to your email submission as promptly as possible. I ask that you consider calling me directly at 1-412-475-9217 or toll free at 1-855-DUI-CRIM for a free initial consultation to discuss your case. You will also find out how our practice can be put to work for you.
I look forward to listening to the circumstances of your case and discussing all available options under the law.
Sincerely,
Michael V. Worgul
Michael V. Worgul, Esq., LLC
429 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Toll Free: 1-855-DUI-CRIM
Phone: 412-475-9217
Fax: 412-288-8943
