Bail is a type of insurance policy used to guarantee that a person arrested and charged with a crime does not flee if they are released while awaiting trial. Unfortunately, in an increasingly large percentage of cases, fleeing is exactly what happens. But jumping bail is not the victimless crime many fugitives like to convince themselves it is. And signing a contract with a Thornton bondsman to bail someone out of jail should never be done without thinking through all the potential ramifications. Below are some tips on how to avoid getting into a situation where a friend or loved one jumps bail as well as what to do should that unfortunate situation come to pass.
What Does the Adams County Bondsman do if the Person I Bailed Out Flees?
The moment a person violates the conditions of their bail by fleeing that bail is forfeit. Once the bond goes into forfeiture the clock starts ticking with the Adams County bail agent now under pressure to find the fugitive and return him or her to custody. If the deadline for returning the suspect to custody passes with the suspect still at large the bonding agent will lose everything they put up to secure bail. But they have an insurance policy of their own. The bail bond contract.
The Role of the Indemnitor
Whoever signs the contract with the Adams County bondsman becomes legally responsible (the “indemnitor”) for the accused once they are released. The contract stipulates that if the bondsman loses their money the indemnitor will reimburse them the entire amount, plus any costs related to finding and recapturing the individual. As such it’s crucial that people know how best to protect themselves and their assets before agreeing to bail someone out.
How to Protect Yourself
- Make sure your relationship with the accused is rock solid - You should never bail out a friend of your son or daughter, a distant relative, a neighbor or casual acquaintance. In order for the bail process to carry sufficient weight the accused must understand that their ties to someone who has played a significant long-term role in their life are on the line should they flee. At the end of the day strong emotional ties are the best insurance against the accused jumping bail.
- Familiarize yourself with the charges before agreeing to post bail -Are the charges so serious that it’s better if the accused remains in custody? Is there a strong likelihood they committed the crime? Are they asking you for bail before they talk to a lawyer? From what you know of the person are they likely to keep their word and stay put in the face of the charges against them? Consider all of these before you sign the bail contract.
- Be prepared to bare all about your loved one -As difficult as it maybe it’s important that you disclose all relevant details about your loved one to the Adams County bail bonds agent. That includes any criminal history, psychiatric issues, their employment record (do they have a solid work history or do they drift from job to job) and whether there are any shady characters in their life they are likely to seek out if they need to hide. Both you and the bonding agent are taking significant risks. No one should be operating in the dark.
- Make sure you can cover the full amount -Don’t sign the contract with the Adams County bail bonds agent unless you are certain you’ll be able to cover the entire amount should things go wrong. This is one of the most common ways indemnitors get in trouble. They assume the person they’re bailing out won’t run and so they go into the process without sufficient resources to back them up should the person flee.
What Not to Do
Should all your due diligence and coordinating with the Adams County bondsman be in vain and your loved one skip bail:
- Do not attempt to hide them -With so much money on the line you can rest assured that the bonding agent from Adams County will do whatever is necessary to track down your wayward loved one. Trying to hide them yourself won’t do them or you any good in the long run. They will be found and you will then be on the hook for the full amount of the bond, plus any costs incurred in locating your loved one and you will be facing charges related to harboring a fugitive. The best route for all is to convince them to turn themselves in.
- Don’t flee yourself - Some people, faced with the financial ramifications of their loved one having skipped bail, decide the best route is to flee themselves in the hope of being able to avoid the day of judgment. This is the worst thing you could do. The Adams County bondsman has just as much incentive to find you as he does the accused. And they will find you. But not before they first take legal possession of whatever you put up as collateral.
Conclusion
The bail system was created as a way to help ensure those accused of a crime are able to maintain a semblance of normalcy in their lives while they await trial. It’s an insurance policy for Adams County and the state. Not a get out of jail free card. Make sure you take the above tips to heart if you ever find yourself being asked to bail someone out. Your future may depend on it.