How Bail Bonds Work

By Jonathan Blecher on January 21, 2021

After being arrested, you will likely be able to be released on bail. Depending on the severity of your crime, the amount may be as low as $100 or substantially more in severe circumstances. For example, a misdemeanor may only set you back $250, but a felony drug possession charge significantly more. If you cannot afford it, you can secure release by using a bail bond company.

Generally, unless a judge believes you are either a risk to the public or a flight risk, bail will be available to you. Otherwise, it will be set at an unreasonably high amount or denied altogether.

Understanding the Bail Bonds System

After being arrested and taken to jail, the booking process can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. If you are arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) in Florida, Section 316.193 (9) of the Florida Statutes requires that you must be held in jail for up to eight hours until corrections officers believe you are no longer impaired, or your breath alcohol level is under .05.. If bail is available, you can pay the full amount directly to the jail or pay the bond through a bail bond agent. Bail bond agencies typically begin working to post the bond, even before the booking process is finished.

The fees that bonding agencies can charge are set by the state. In Florida, any bond that is $1,000 or less will cost $100 and any amount more than that will be 10% of the full amount of the bond. If you have multiple bonds as a result of multiple charges, you will need to make multiple payments. For example, for three bonds that are each $1,000, you must pay $300 to the bonding agent as their fee for posting the bond with the court.

Collateral

Bonding agents require collateral in an amount equivalent to the amount of the bond they post with the court. Collateral may come in the form of a promissory note guaranteed by real estate. If you jump bond (fail to appear in court) you may lose the collateral. An attorney can appear on your behalf in court in most cases to avoid that problem.

Regardless of the severity of your crime or whether bail is available, you should hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to handle your case as soon as possible.

Below is a list of some highly-rated local bail bond agencies:

Reach Out to Our Legal Team to Secure Aggressive Representation Today!

If you were arrested for a crime, such as a DUI charges in Miami or drug offense, don’t hesitate to hire a skilled attorney to represent you and protect your rights. At Jonathan Blecher, P.A., our Miami criminal defense attorney has more than three decades of experience and a history of successful results. We understand how overwhelming it is to face criminal charges and will fight tirelessly to achieve the best outcome for your case.

Call our law office today at 305-321-3237 to schedule a free consultation via Zoom, email, or phone to discuss the details of your case.