Job Description of a Bail Bondsman

When an alleged criminal is arraigned the judge may grant the defendant bail. This is a cash amount the defendant must pay in order to be released pending trial. If the defendant cannot pay the amount, he may choose to hire a bail bond agent, or a bondsman, to bail him out. The defendant must pay the bondsman a percentage of the bail, and may also be required to post an asset as collateral, such as a house. In return, the bondsman arranges the defendant's release from jail.

Function

Bail bond agents bail suspected criminals out of jail. If their client does not reappear in court, the agent may use a bounty hunter to find the defendant and recover the agent's money paid to the court.

History

In 1898 in San Francisco, Tom and Peter McDonough established the first American bail bond business.

Legal

Commercial bail bonding has been banned in Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky and Oregon.

Fees

Bail bond agents usually charge their clients 10 percent of the total bail required by the court. This fee is nonrefundable.

Fun Fact

Some organizations offer its members bail bonding service, such as AAA (American Automobile Association).

Resources

• Professional Bail Agents of the United States