How Do I Bail Someone Out of Jail?

Bailing a loved one out of jail allows them to be free from police custody while their case is pending. The money put up serves to guarantee that the individual will appear in court as scheduled.

Having your loved one released after an arrest can help ease some of the stresses you and they might be facing during this difficult time. For instance, you won’t be restricted by detention facility visiting hours if you want to check up on your loved one and see how they are doing. Additionally, your loved one will be in a better position to prepare their defense for their criminal case.

With the various benefits of getting your loved one released from jail while they await trial, you might be wondering how you go about posting bail. You have a couple of options: You can pay the bail amount out of pocket or get assistance from a bail bonds agent.

For the help you need with the bail process in Columbus or the surrounding areas, contact Andy Callif Bail Bonds at (614) 945-4334.

How Bail Is Set

Before you can go about bailing someone out of jail, you must know the amount their bail is.

The bail amount for your loved one will be set shortly after their arrest. Depending on the situation, it may be listed in a bail schedule. In this case, you wouldn’t have to wait long before you know how much you need to pay.

For certain offenses, a judge will decide the bail amount. Typically, bail is determined at an arraignment, occurring within a couple of days after a person is booked.

How much your loved one’s bail will cost depends on several factors, such as:

• Their criminal history (if any),
• The severity of their case,
• Their family and community ties, or
• Whether they are a flight risk.

The Process for Bailing Someone Out of Jail

Once your loved one’s bail is set, you can begin the process of seeking release from police custody.

Several steps are involved in getting someone out of jail after an arrest. These include:

• Verifying the bond amount: You may need to contact the court or jail to ensure you know exactly how much needs to be posted for bail.
• Completing paperwork: The court will need your information to initiate the release process and to issue a receipt to send your bail refund after your loved one’s case concludes (if you pay for bail out of pocket).
• Paying the bail amount: Depending on the time of day, you can pay the court or the jail the bail amount.
• Waiting for your loved one’s release: Once bail is satisfied, the jail will receive orders to let your loved one out. This part of the process can take a few hours, with the exact amount of time depending on the detention facility.

The above is an abbreviated version of the bail process.

Avenues for Posting Bail

Several methods are available for posting bail on behalf of a loved one, including a cash or surety bond.

With cash bail, you pay the amount set by the judge or the schedule out of your own pocket. Bail is not cheap. It can be a couple of thousands to tens of thousands of dollars in some cases. You must pay the full balance, including any applicable fees, before the court sends an order to have your loved one released from jail.

Cash bail can be paid by cash, check, or credit cards (although payment methods may vary from one court to another). The court will hold onto your money until your loved one’s case is complete. If your loved one makes all court appearances, the amount you paid for bail will be returned. However, you won’t get anything back if your loved one fails to appear.

If you choose to get your loved one out of jail with cash, you’d have to navigate on your own the bail bonds process described earlier. Many moving parts are involved, and things can get confusing, especially when you’re dealing with the fear and anxiety associated with a loved one’s arrest.

Another way you can bail someone out of jail is by a surety bond. With this method, you have a bail bonds agency post bail for you. This avenue is often more cost-effective because you pay a 10% nonrefundable premium (plus any applicable fees). For example, a $10,000 bail would cost $1,000.

When you turn to a bail bond agency to get someone out of jail, you are an indemnitor (or responsible party) on the bond. You must ensure that your loved one adheres to all conditions of bail and that they show up for court. If they do what’s required of them, the bail will be satisfied, and you will not owe any more money (unless you made specific arrangements with the bonding agency). If your loved one does not show up for court, the bail bond company will contact you for the remaining balance of the bail.

Though you don’t get the 10% fee back after your loved one’s case, having a bail bonds agent helping can make the process of securing release from jail easier to navigate. The bonds person will know which agencies to contact and will take care of the details for you.

Contact Andy Callif Bail Bonds Today

The bail bonds process can be complicated. Our Columbus team is here to explain how you can get your loved one out of jail after their arrest and what’s required upon their release. We are efficient and will work quickly to get your loved one out of jail as soon as possible.