Court trials can take a long time, sometimes weeks, months, or even years. Luckily, bail allows you to stay out of jail while your case is ongoing. It allows you to live your life and spend time with your loved ones as you wait for the trial to end. If you cannot pay the full bail amount or prefer not to use your own money, you can seek help from a Rocky River bail bonds company to secure your release from jail.
At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, our bail bond services are available throughout Rocky River. Our experienced bail bondsmen will process your bond promptly so you spend the minimum time in custody. Call us today to find out how we can help you.
Bail Versus Rocky River Bail Bonds
Bail is the amount a court orders a defendant to pay to secure their release from custody. After a defendant pays their bail, the court allows them to go back home as they wait for their trial.
In Ohio, counties have their bail schedules, especially for misdemeanor offenses. If your offense is listed on the bail schedule, you will not have to appear before a judge for them to determine your bail amount. The authorities will refer to the bail schedule, and you can be allowed to either use cash or a bail bond to pay for the bail. If your offense is not mentioned on the schedule, you will appear before the judge to determine if you are eligible for bail and the required amount you are supposed to pay.
Other factors the court can use to set your bail may include:
- The charges against you
- If you committed a non-violent or violent crime
- If you have had other convictions in the past
- Your risk of fleeing before the case ends
- If you pose any risk to the public
- Your ties to the community
- The bail schedule
On the other hand, a bail bond is an agreement between the defendant, the court, and a bail bonds company.
The process of posting bail using a Rocky River bail bonds service begins when a defendant contacts a licensed bail bondsman to help them pay for the bail. Usually, most defendants or their families contact bail bond companies because they cannot afford to pay for their bail out of pocket.
Before they can process your bail, they will have to complete certain steps:
- They will first investigate whether you are eligible for bail.
- If you qualify, they will complete the paperwork for your contract and fill out all the information about the defendant, including where they are being held and the charges against them.
- They will then secure the defendant’s release from custody.
- Ensure the defendant understands their release conditions and other information they need to know about their release.
Rocky River bail bondsmen typically charge a 10% premium plus administrative fees. They issue the court an insurance policy stating they will cover the full bail amount if you do not appear for court hearings.
What Will Happen to Your Bail Once the Case is Over?
Bail is typically not a penalty for committing an offense. Therefore, once the case concludes, one of two things could happen:
Your Bail is Exonerated
Bail exoneration happens when the court returns the bail amount to the one who paid it. The court exonerates bail when:
- The case concludes. The results of the case do not affect the exoneration. The court will refund your bail even after you have been convicted.
- You attended all the court proceedings.
- You obeyed all court orders and followed bail conditions after you were released from custody.
The court will write a check if you used cash to pay for your bail. For those who spent their bail using a property bond, the court will lift the lien on their property. Also, the Rocky River bail bonds company will not be liable to pay the whole bail amount to the court after the bail is exonerated. The bail bonds service will return your collateral if you present it.
Your Bail is Forfeited
The court forfeits a defendant’s bail if they do not appear for their court proceedings or trial, or when they violate the terms of their release. Once the court forfeits your bail, you will not receive the amount you paid. Also, if you used a property bond to cover your bail, the court could sell that property to cover your bail.
If you or your loved one posted your bail through a Rocky River bail bonds company, bail forfeiture implies that the bail bondsman must cover the entire bail. It also means you could lose any asset or property you gave as collateral to the bail bonds company.
When Bail is Denied
Sometimes, the court can refuse to grant bail to a defendant. When bail is denied, the defendant must remain in custody throughout their trial. There are some reasons why courts can deny bail in Ohio, including:
You Committed a Capital Crime
The court can deny bail if you are accused of a capital crime. Capital crimes can include offenses such as aggravated murder or assassinating a public official. In these cases, denying bail reduces the risk of the defendant fleeing or reoffending.
You Violated Your Parole or Probation
One condition that the court typically requires from defendants on parole or probation is to avoid being caught up in other crimes. If you violate the terms of your parole or probation, the court could deny your request for bail.
Jail and Court Information in Rocky River
Rocky River Police Department
21012 Hilliard Boulevard,
Rocky River, Ohio
44116
Rocky River Municipal Court
21012 Hilliard Boulevard
Rocky River, Ohio
44116
Find a Rocky River Bail Bonds Company Near Me
If you or your loved one is detained after an arrest in Rocky River, you can post bail to secure a release. Bail guarantees they will attend their trial after release and any other court hearings the court mandates.
However, some defendants cannot raise the money the court needs for their bail. If you are in this situation, consider working with a professional Rocky River bail bonds service that is knowledgeable about local bail procedures. At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, our bail bondsmen can post your bail and guide you through the bail process. Call us today at 800-930-8999 to speak with one of our representatives.