Whether you are a defendant, the loved one of a defendant, aspiring to go into law enforcement or work as a lawyer, or are even just a casual observer of Denver bail bonds, then you should familiarize yourself with terms that apply to bail bonds in Denver Colorado and elsewhere.
Bail Bonds Lingo
- If you are in need of a bail bondsman in Denver Colorado, then that could mean you have been placed under Arrest and have been incarcerated in the Denver County Jail. Arrest is simply the action taken by a police officer or other person acting under law to take a person into custody so that person may be forthcoming to answer for allegedly committing a crime.
- Think of Bail as a type of insurance, some form of property put up as collateral or pledged to a court to convince it to release a defendant from jail, with the understanding that the suspect will return for trial – rather than skipping or jumping bail, either of which would result in the forfeiture of the bail. In the best case scenario, the bail money will be returned at the end of a trial, assuming the defendant has made all court appearances regardless of the outcome of court proceedings.
- A Bail Bondsman in Denver is any person or company that will act as a surety (insurance) and put up money or property as bail to make sure a criminal defendant appears in court. The bondsman or company receives a portion of the bond in return, or loses the whole amount if the defendant jumps bail and cannot be located within a specified time frame.
- A Bounty Hunter, formally known as a fugitive recovery agent, often does much of the “glamorous” work when it comes to a defendant who’s jumped bail. A bounty hunter is responsible for tracking down the person and returning him or her to law enforcement officials. This can sometimes involve stressful and dangerous work as someone who’s skipped bail will go to great lengths not to be found. As such, the bounty hunter may have to employ detective or investigative skills in pursuit of the defendant.
- In Denver City Jail, a defendant, bail bondsman, or company may post a Cash Bond – literally, a cash amount to the court to be released from jail until a court date has been set.
- Collateral is an asset that represents security or a guarantee promised for the repayment of a loan if the person in question doesn’t have the funds to repay the bail. If the person can’t repay the bail, he or she forfeits whatever was put forth as collateral.
- A Fugitive is a person who has fled from custody, regardless of the circumstances or whether the person is avoiding government arrest, questioning, or a vengeful person harmed in some way by the defendant.
- Recognizance is when the accused makes a promise he or she will attend all court dates, and will not engage in further illegal activity or activity otherwise prohibited by the court. For example, a court may rule that a defendant can be released on his own recognizance as long as there is a promise to not leave a certain geographic region, or contact a certain person. The court may decide the defendant has to post a certain amount of money to be released until the next court date.
If you are in the position where you need to hire a bail bondsman, then you have an obligation to understand that person’s responsibilities, and your role in the relationship.