Being arrested for an offense in Lakewood can be a stressful experience. Fortunately, Ohio State has a bail system that enables defendants to regain their freedom pending the resolution of their cases. The bail system requires defendants to post a particular amount in court to secure their jail release.
If you cannot pay the amount, seek help from a Lakewood bail bonds service. You can count on us at 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds to provide fast and reliable Lakewood bail bonds. We are also ready to customize a payment plan that suits your financial needs. Call us now for a consultation.
What Does Bail Mean?
When you are placed under arrest and accused of an offense in Lakewood, the arresting officer will often take you into custody for booking and then hold you in a jail cell. Then, early into your case, the authorities may offer you bail. At this point, you are presumed innocent.
Bail refers to a financial agreement between you (the defendant) and the court, allowing you to be set free from custody pending the resolution of your case on the promise that you will make all the required court appearances. It involves depositing a specific amount of money (bail amount) with the court to secure your promise to make court appearances. You will receive the bail money back if you keep your promise and attend all court dates. If you fail to make court appearances, you will forfeit the money to the court.
How Bail Works In Lakewood
A judge or magistrate usually sets the bail amount and conditions at the arraignment, and they can change those conditions later. Once the judge sets the bail amount, you must pay it before you can leave jail. There are various ways you can pay this amount. These include paying using cash, giving the court valuable property, or contracting the services of a local Lakewood bail bonds company.
Payment Using Cash
Bail payment using cash is known as cash bail. It involves depositing the bail money in cash with the court to secure a jail release. Some courts accept check deposits in place of cash. If you do not attend the required court hearings or violate bail conditions, you can be rearrested, or the presiding judge can set new bail or additional bail conditions. You will lose the cash bail you previously posted to the court.
Giving Out Valuable Property
Giving the court valuable property to hold onto and secure your release is called a property bond. You can give out real estate, often a house, which will serve as collateral to secure your jail release. The court will place a lien on the property, and it can sell it to recover the bail value if you fail to attend court or violate bail conditions.
Contracting the Services of a Lakewood Bail Bonds Company
Apart from paying cash or giving out your property, you can also request a local Lakewood bail bonds service to help you post bail at a fee by posting a bail bond. In this case, you pay a bondsman a fee in exchange for them giving the court a promissory note assuring you will attend court. The fee or premium is usually 10% of the bail amount and is non-refundable. If you do not attend court or violate bail conditions, the bondsman will be forced to pay the whole bail amount. You will then owe the bondsman, and they may pursue you to collect the debt.
In other words, a bail bond is a surety bond an company provides, promising the accused will make court appearances; otherwise, it will pay the entire bail value. In essence, a bail bond is a means for defendants to secure their jail release when they may not have property or cash on hand to bail themselves out.
Personal Bond
At times, judges do not set bail. Instead, they allow defendants to secure their jail release by signing a promise to appear on the required court dates and follow other bail conditions. This is known as a personal bond. If you fail to make court appearances or violate other bail conditions, the judge can issue a bench warrant against you or set a new bond or additional conditions.
Some personal bonds carry a cash value the defendant could owe if they violate the bond agreement. Personal bonds are also called personal recognizance or own recognizance bonds.
The Lakewood Bail Bonds Process
After the judge sets bail, you, your family member, or your friend can call a trusted Lakewood bail bonds company for their help posting the amount. The company’s bondsman will need you to give personal details like:
- Your name,
- Your contact information,
- Your address
- Where you are being held
- The bail amount set
- The location of arrest
The bondsman will then prepare a contract and application, which they will require you to sign. After signing, the bondsman will need you to pay the bond premium, usually 10 percent of the total bail amount. This is the company's fee for assuming the financial risk and ensuring you appear in court, which is why it is non-refundable. The bondsman can also request that you provide collateral to secure the bond. Collateral may include assets such as real estate, jewelry, or vehicles.
Once you have completed all the paperwork, paid the premium, and provided collateral, the bondsman will go to court and post a promissory note, assuring you will make court appearances. After the bondsman posts the note, you will be released from jail. Based on the jail facility and staff, the release process may take 30 minutes to two hours.
Jail Information
Lakewood Jail
Phone No.: 216-529-6758
Court Information
The Lakewood Municipal Court
Phone No.: 216-529-6700
Find a Professional Lakewood Bail Bonds Service Near Me
Navigating the Lakewood bail bonds process can be intricate and overwhelming, particularly if you are unconversant with the criminal justice system. That said, you want to seek help from an experienced bail bondsman.
At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, we boast bail bondsmen with the resources, experience, and knowledge to guide clients through the process, ensuring their obligations and rights are safeguarded. We can help reduce the uncertainty and stress of bonds, enabling you to concentrate on developing a compelling defense. Call us at 800-930-8999 to commence the process.