Getting arrested is one of the most stressful, disorienting experiences a person can have. In the blink of an eye their nice, predictable world full of friends, family, life and love is turned upside down. They’re taken against their will, confined against their will and face charges that could potentially impact their life for years to come. And while the American system of justice is based on the presumption of innocence it sure doesn’t feel that way when the cell door closes. But that’s why we have bail. Bail ensures that those accused of a crime are able to return to their daily life while they await their court appearance. And the bondsman plays a key role in securing their release. There are those however, who suggest that, if possible, you should always pay your own bail rather than using a bonding agent. But is that really the best thing to do?

The Right Approach to Bail Bonds is the Rapid Release Approach

Getting arrested is physically, mentally and emotionally draining. Thankfully the bail system exists to ensure you have a chance to return home and resume your life while awaiting your day in court. While there are those who take the position that you should always pay your own cash bail if you can afford to do so we respectfully disagree. And we’ll give you our reasons. 5 of them.

1. You won’t tie up your money for months or years - This is something almost no one who advocates paying your own bail ever mentions. And for good reason. If people understood that by paying their own bail that that money would be unavailable to them possibly for years while their case winds its way through court, most would call us instead. It’s true that as long as you make all your court appearances and abide by the terms of your bail your money will be returned to you at the conclusion of your case. But that could, and often does, take years. In the meantime that money might as well not exist because you can’t touch it.
2. You’ll get out of jail faster - Do you know how to go about paying your own bail with your own money if you’re arrested in Adams County, Broomfield County, Weld County or Denver? Who do you talk to? What payment options are open to you? What if you want to pay in cash but don’t have the money on you? It can take many long hours to find out how to proceed if you’re paying bail yourself. And if want to pay cash things could get very drawn out indeed. When you work with the pros at Rapid Release you’ll be out of jail as fast as is legally possible.
3. The bonding agent knows the system - And the system knows the more experienced bonding agents. Your bondsman knows exactly who to call, what questions to ask, where to send payment and who to notify that payment has been made. They’re trusted by officers of the court, well-known by local law enforcement and have a depth of legal knowledge often surpassed only by your attorney. When you use an experienced bail agent you won’t ever languish in jail because no one is taking you seriously.
4. They make sure you meet your obligations - If you really want to use your arrest as a way to screw up your entire future then skipping out on your court date is a great way to do it. As soon as you fail to appear you become a fugitive from justice in the eyes of the legal system and any problem you had becomes several times more serious overnight. The best, smartest thing any person who has been accused of a crime can do is show up for their court date on time, sober and looking presentable. Your bail agent will make sure you remain up to date on scheduled court appearances so that your manageable legal problem does not turn into a nightmare.
5. Your business stays your business - If you have been arrested and you go to your friends to borrow money to pay the bail your private life suddenly becomes public knowledge. Word gets out because that’s what happens when other people get involved. If you work with the pros at Rapid Release your business remains between you, your indemnitor (usually a close family member) and your bail agent. That’s it. You can be back at your job the next day and back with your family without your neighbors, buddies, old school classmates and the cashier at the 7-11 all knowing what happened.

The Bottom Line

While paying your own cash bail might sound like a common sense thing to do it actually makes a lot more sense to work with a professional bail bonding agent. They know the ins and outs of the system better than just about anyone else. They understand how stressful the whole situation is for you and your loved ones. And - as long as you adhere to the terms of your release - they’ll be a potentially powerful ally in your corner if questions arise about your conduct while out on bail. You can go ahead and try to work the system by yourself. That’s certainly your right. But the better play is to enlist the help of the professionals at Rapid Release. If you or a loved one has been arrested don’t delay, give us a call at (720) 988-8304.