Different Types of Bail Bonds

How Bail Bonds Work

Posting of a bail bond is a process that involves a contractual undertaking. This process includes elements that are guaranteed by the bail agent and the individual posting bail. The bail agent guarantees to the court that the defendant will appear in court each and every time the judge requires. 


For this service, the defendant is charged a percentage of the bail amount. Before being released the defendant or a relative or friend of the defendant, typically contacts a bail agent to arrange for the posting of bail. Prior to the posting of a bail bond, the defendant or a co-signer must guarantee that they will pay the full amount of bail if the defendant does not appear in court.

Typically, a family member or a close friend of the defendant will post bail and cosign. Collateral is not always required for a person to be bailed out from jail. Often a person can be bailed from jailed on the signature of a friend or family member. Cosigners typically need to be working and either own or rent a home in the same area for some length of time.


After an agreement is reached, the bail agent posts a bond for the amount of the bail, to guarantee the defendant’s return to court.


If defendant fails to appear, the cosigner is immediately responsible for the full amount of the bail. If the defendant is located and arrested by the bail agent, the cosigner is responsible for all expenses incurred while looking for and apprehending the defendant.

The five basic release options available to an arrestee are

  • Cash Bond

    To be released on cash bail, an individual must post with the court the total amount of the bail, in cash, to secure his or her return to court on an appointed date, and thereafter until the case is concluded. Full cash bonds provide a powerful incentive for defendants to appear at trial. If the defendant shows up for his or her scheduled court appearances, the cash is returned to the posting party. If the defendant fails to appear the cash bond is forfeited to the court.

  • Surety Bond

    An alternative to cash bail is the posting of a surety bond. This process involves a contractual undertaking guaranteed by an admitted insurance company that has adequate assets to satisfy the face value of the bond. The bail agent guarantees to the court that they will pay the bond forfeiture if a defendant fails to appear for any of their scheduled court appearances. The bail agent’s guarantee is made through a surety company and or the pledge of property owned by the agent.


    For this service, the defendant is charged a premium. In order to be released pursuant to the posting of a surety bond, the arrestee, or a relative or friend of the arrestee, typically contacts a bail agent. This agent is licensed by the state of California to post surety bonds. Prior to the posting of a surety bond, the bail agent undertakes a detailed interview of the proposed guarantor of the surety bond, as well as the arrestee and the relatives of the arrestee, as part of the underwriting procedure for the bond.


    By involving the family and friends, as well as through the acceptance of the collateral, the bail agent can be reasonably assured that an individual released on surety bond will appear at his or her appointed court date, as required until the case is adjudicated.


    After this procedure is concluded, if an agreement is reached, the bail agent posts a bond for the amount of the bail, to guarantee the arrestee’s return to court.


    With his money on the line, a bail agent has a financial interest in supervising bailees, and insuring that they appear for trial. If a defendant “skips”, the bail agent has time and the financial incentive to find him or her and bring and bring him or her in. Significantly, commercial bail bond agents profit only when the defendant shows up for trial. Judges acknowledge that bail agents have extremely effective methods to make sure defendants show up for the required court appearances.


  • Own Recognizance (O.R.)

    Another method of release pending trial is through a county or law enforcement administered pre-trial program. Usually, the staff members of these programs interview individuals in custody and make recommendations to the court regarding release of these individuals on their own recognizance (i.e., without any financial security to insure the interviewee’s return).

    The interview process is often conducted over the telephone, with little inquiry to the individuals background to determine whether the detainee is likely to appear in court and with virtually no verification of information provided by the detainee. Since no money or bond is posted to secure the detainee’s appearance in court, he or she faces no personal economic hardship from his or her conscious failure to appear.


  • Citation Release

    This procedure know as the “Cite Out,” involves the issuance of a citation by the arresting officer to the arrestee, informing the arrestee that he or she must appear at an appointed court date. The “Cite Out” usually occurs immediately after an individual is arrested. As a consequence of the failure to follow complete booking procedures, the true identity and background of most individuals released on citation is never established. This results in the release of numerous arrestees who may have outstanding bench warrants pending or who may present a significant danger to society.


    Accordingly, in these cases involving “Cite Outs”, the arrestee may never be placed in custody, and like the own recognizance (O.R.) release, such an arrestee’s appearance in court depends exclusively upon the integrity of the alleged felon and his or her voluntary returning to court.


  • Property Bond

    In rare cases an individual may obtain release from custody by means of posting a property bond with the court. Here the court records a lien on property, to secure the bail amount. If the arrestee subsequently fails to appear at the scheduled court date, the court may institute foreclosure proceedings against the property to obtain the forfeited bail amount.

  • Cash Bond

    To be released on cash bail, an individual must post with the court the total amount of the bail, in cash, to secure his or her return to court on an appointed date, and thereafter until the case is concluded. Full cash bonds provide a powerful incentive for defendants to appear at trial. If the defendant shows up for his or her scheduled court appearances, the cash is returned to the posting party. If the defendant fails to appear the cash bond is forfeited to the court.

  • Surety Bond

    An alternative to cash bail is the posting of a surety bond. This process involves a contractual undertaking guaranteed by an admitted insurance company that has adequate assets to satisfy the face value of the bond. The bail agent guarantees to the court that they will pay the bond forfeiture if a defendant fails to appear for any of their scheduled court appearances. The bail agent’s guarantee is made through a surety company and or the pledge of property owned by the agent.


    For this service, the defendant is charged a premium. In order to be released pursuant to the posting of a surety bond, the arrestee, or a relative or friend of the arrestee, typically contacts a bail agent. This agent is licensed by the state of California to post surety bonds. Prior to the posting of a surety bond, the bail agent undertakes a detailed interview of the proposed guarantor of the surety bond, as well as the arrestee and the relatives of the arrestee, as part of the underwriting procedure for the bond.


    By involving the family and friends, as well as through the acceptance of the collateral, the bail agent can be reasonably assured that an individual released on surety bond will appear at his or her appointed court date, as required until the case is adjudicated.


    After this procedure is concluded, if an agreement is reached, the bail agent posts a bond for the amount of the bail, to guarantee the arrestee’s return to court.


    With his money on the line, a bail agent has a financial interest in supervising bailees, and insuring that they appear for trial. If a defendant “skips”, the bail agent has time and the financial incentive to find him or her and bring and bring him or her in. Significantly, commercial bail bond agents profit only when the defendant shows up for trial. Judges acknowledge that bail agents have extremely effective methods to make sure defendants show up for the required court appearances.


  • Own Recognizance (O.R.)

    Another method of release pending trial is through a county or law enforcement administered pre-trial program. Usually, the staff members of these programs interview individuals in custody and make recommendations to the court regarding release of these individuals on their own recognizance (i.e., without any financial security to insure the interviewee’s return).

    The interview process is often conducted over the telephone, with little inquiry to the individuals background to determine whether the detainee is likely to appear in court and with virtually no verification of information provided by the detainee. Since no money or bond is posted to secure the detainee’s appearance in court, he or she faces no personal economic hardship from his or her conscious failure to appear.


  • Citation Release

    This procedure know as the “Cite Out,” involves the issuance of a citation by the arresting officer to the arrestee, informing the arrestee that he or she must appear at an appointed court date. The “Cite Out” usually occurs immediately after an individual is arrested. As a consequence of the failure to follow complete booking procedures, the true identity and background of most individuals released on citation is never established. This results in the release of numerous arrestees who may have outstanding bench warrants pending or who may present a significant danger to society.


    Accordingly, in these cases involving “Cite Outs”, the arrestee may never be placed in custody, and like the own recognizance (O.R.) release, such an arrestee’s appearance in court depends exclusively upon the integrity of the alleged felon and his or her voluntary returning to court.


  • Property Bond

    In rare cases an individual may obtain release from custody by means of posting a property bond with the court. Here the court records a lien on property, to secure the bail amount. If the arrestee subsequently fails to appear at the scheduled court date, the court may institute foreclosure proceedings against the property to obtain the forfeited bail amount.

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