Across all fifty states of America, the ability to be bailed out of jail is one of the most important things for anyone who may find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Bail is the financial promise that allows those who are arrested to return to the safety and comfort of their home. This monetary agreement is made under the understanding that they will return for every court day and will not commit any further crimes during the period before their hearing.
While all fifty states have some provision regarding bail, there are some differences between states that can make understanding the bail process difficult if you’re just searching for information.
At 24/7 Bail Bonds, we’ve been working within the Georgia legal system for years, helping clients navigate the complicated bail process with ease. This experience has made us experts at understanding exactly how the Georgia bail system works.
If you’re scratching your head trying to understand how bail amounts are determined for your loved one, look no further. We’ll give you a thorough rundown of all the things you need to know.
Who Sets Bail
When your loved one is arrested, bail isn’t automatically established. Instead, your loved one will be escorted to a jail or holding facility to be processed and booked. During the booking process, all the arrestee’s items will be inventoried and stored away until release. They will also be fingerprinted, background and warrant checked, and processed into the local system to be crosschecked with the national system.
Once that is done, a judge, over the next 48-72 hours, will look over the case and determine what the bail amount should be. Though there are recommendations for what specific bail amounts should be by crime, the judge has the final say in the total amount. If you believe the bail amount was set too high for the crime or you are denied bail, you may be given the ability to appeal the judge’s decision. However, unless it’s determined the judge failed to consider key factors, this is unlikely to go through.
What Factors Are Considered?
When considering how to set the bail amount, a judge will consider several key factors about the defendant and the crime. Common factors considered when determining your eligibility and bail amount are:
- Criminal history
- Connection to the community
- Flight risk possibility
- How long you’ve been a resident of the area
- Employment & work status
- Nature of the crime
- Severity of the crime
- Ability to pay
- Public Safety
- Georgia bail schedule
The last one, or the bail schedule, is a set of rough guidelines and recommendations on how to set a bail amount. This bail amount is usually standardized across a state but is not the final say on what the bail amount will be. While there are specific guidelines a judge must consider when determining the amount of bail, they may go above or below the recommended bail at their discretion.
Within Georgia, however, certain offenses are deemed too severe even to be considered for bail. Such crimes are usually related to murder and assaults – though an attorney can attempt to request bail from a Superior Court Judge.
What to Do When You Can’t Pay Bail
After the bail amount has been set according to the judge’s decree, it’ll be up to you or your loved one to determine how you’ll handle the bail fee. For a loved one to be released, the bail amount must be paid in full. However, if you aren’t able to pay the full amount, there’s another option you might consider: bail bonds.
For those seeking alternative ways to get their loved one out of jail quickly, bail bonds are an option. A bail bond is a financial agreement you’ll make between you (the indemnitor) and a trusted bail bond agency, which allows the bail bond agency to cover the full cost of the bail. In exchange, you’ll pay a portion of the bail to the bail bond agency as a non-refundable fee.
Bail bonds are often an ideal choice for those who value time and ease when trying to get their loved one out of jail. A bail bond agency has been working within the legal system for years. They have not only developed a relationship with the legal system that allows them to navigate it with ease and efficiency but have gained the knowledge that makes the entire bail bond process go much quicker than it would if you’d attempted to navigate it on your own.
If you’re currently seeking a bail bond agency you can trust, look no further than the skilled agents at 24/7 Bail Bonds. Our bail bond agents are kind, courteous, and knowledgeable about every step of the process. With our assistance, your loved one will be back in your arms in no time.
We serve 13 counties in the state of Georgia and are always available when you need us. Call us now at (912) 526 – 3733 to speak directly with a bail bond agent.