What is a surety bond for jail?

A surety bond for jail, also known as a bail bond, is a contractual agreement between a surety company, the defendant, and the court. It is used to secure the release of a defendant from jail while they await trial or sentencing.

When a person is arrested and charged with a crime, the court may set a bail amount that the defendant must pay in order to be released from jail. If the defendant cannot afford to pay the full amount of bail, they can seek the services of a bail bond agent to obtain a surety bond.

The bail bond agent will charge a non-refundable fee, typically 10-15% of the total bail amount, and will then secure the remaining amount through a surety company. The surety company guarantees to the court that the defendant will appear for all court proceedings, and if the defendant fails to appear, the surety company will be responsible for paying the full bail amount to the court.

If the defendant complies with all court requirements and appears for all proceedings, the surety bond will be released, and the defendant will not be required to pay the full bail amount. However, if the defendant fails to appear, the surety company can seek reimbursement from the defendant for the full bail amount.

Overall, a surety bond for jail provides a way for defendants to secure their release from jail while still ensuring that they will comply with the court's requirements.