In many cases where an individual is arrested and taken to jail, this will be their first time navigating the process – and the first time for any friends or family who may be assisting them. There are several elements herein that might seem strange or foreign, with some of the simplest including basic terminology or words used as you look to secure release for yourself or someone close to you.

At Beehive Bail Bonds, we’re here to help with this and several related areas. Not only do we provide 24-hour bail bond services throughout Utah, we’re also proud to assist many clients with navigating the jail booking and release process from start to finish. For those who are unfamiliar, we’re happy to go over many of the terms you may hear during bail or bond situations – in this two-part blog, we’ll define several such terms in their most basic form, plus why they may matter to you in your situation.

Bail and Bail Bonds

First and foremost, let’s define these simple terms – which are sometimes used interchangeably or even confused by those who haven’t been in this situation before. Bail is the amount the court or judge requires be paid to secure your release, and it will be determined by the severity of the crime you’re accused of and any prior history that may make you a flight risk.

Bond, on the other hand, is a contract that allows a third party to pay the full bail amount to the court. The accused individual pays this third party a percentage of the total, allowing them to secure release even in situations where they do not have enough money to cover the full bail on their own. In addition, bonds also function as a contract that stipulates the date of the court hearing the defendant must attend, plus other details.

Bail Bondsman

The third party we referenced above? This is the bail bondsman, who covers the full bail amount in exchange for about 10% of the total, plus a fee. As long as the defendant attends their required court date, this money will be returned.

Bail Conditions

Before allowing release, the court will set various conditions that must be met. While the financial obligation of bail is generally one such condition, there are also often others: Areas like restraining orders, requirement to remain in a certain location or related issues.

Bail Withdrawal or Surrender

If any of the bail conditions in a given case are not met, the court reserves the right to withdraw bail. This also may be done if the defendant is a public threat. In these cases, bail will either be denied or the court will order the re-arrest of a client out on bail.

In other cases, if you have a co-signer for your bail bond, this individual may surrender their responsibility here. This can often be done if the financial requirements change or if the defendant violates the conditions of the bail.

For more on standard terms to be aware of withing the bail and bail bond world, or to learn about any of our bail bonds or related services, speak to the staff at Beehive Bail Bonds today.