For anyone who has been arrested or cited for a crime, the process of release and handling further details can be complex and occasionally frustrating. Just the ins and outs of securing your release can be tedious in some cases, with several different bail and other release formats available depending on the exact nature of your legal issue.

At Beehive Bail Bonds, we’re here to help with everything from experienced bail bondsmen and cash bonds to assisting you with finding the right defense attorney for your case. Do you know the various types of bail bonds and other release formats, and which might apply to your case? This two-part blog will go over all the various formats included here and how they might affect you and your case.

Citation or Recognizance Release

In many cases where the crime or citation is relatively minor, release can be secured without any funds being transferred between parties – or without even being taken into custody, in some situations. There are a couple such situations that often take place:

• Citation release: A situation where the suspect is not even taken into custody, but is rather issued a citation that orders an appearance before a judge on a given date. Many people have received citations, which can include traffic violations and other minor crimes.
• Recognizance release: A recognizance release is similar to a citation release due to the fact that no money is required – the big difference is that in this case, the suspect will be taken into custody. However, once they sign paperwork promising to appear in court on a certain date, they will be released with no bail required. In these cases, however, there will be a fine if the suspect does not appear in court as promised.

Cash Bail

In other cases, a bail amount will be set that must be paid before the suspect can be released. In these situations, one of the common formats for paying bail, particularly if it’s a small amount, is simple cash.

If the suspect has access to the money needed, this is generally the simplest way to go. Some corrections departments will only accept cash here and not other fund types, but this is usually only done for flight risks or other special circumstances.

Surety Bond

When working with a bail bondsman due to not having the cash on hand to pay a given bail amount, the most common format by far is the surety bond. This is a bond where you pay the bondsman 10 percent of the total bail amount, and they pay the remainder for a fee. Like the other situations described above, these fund transfers are made along with a promise that you will appear in court on the required date.

For more on the kinds of bonds and other release formats available, or to learn about any of our bail bond services, speak to the staff at Beehive Bail Bonds today.