In a perfect world, if a crime even occurred and someone was arrested for it, the
trial would be short and sweet; hear both sides of the story, sentence or acquit.
However, the world is not as rosy and trials in the current American legal system
often take weeks, even months. As a result, the defendants, some of whom may be
innocent, have to cool their heels in jail until the moment of truth. Not only
may the consequence be financial hardship but also extreme mental trauma and
missing out on social life and personal well-being. Bail is one such escape from
this period of wait and misery before a trial.
In many cases, courts accept bail as a financial assurance in exchange for
releasing the defendant until the trial is complete. The judge takes into account
several factors, including the severity of the alleged crime and the defendant's
criminal record, while granting bail and the setting the amount of it.
If bail is granted, the document containing details of it is known as a bail bond
and is signed by a bail bondsman, a person who undertakes the guarantee that the
defendant will appear for all his hearings. If the defendant jumps bail, the bail
bondsman must pay from his own buildup fund.
So, this precious, little document, the bail bond, enables the defendant to heave
a sigh of relief. For his family, the most important quality of a bail bond is that
it allows the loved one out of jail in a quick and dignified manner. It saves all
of them a great deal of stress and anxiety and helps in keeping their reputation intact.
A reputable bail bondsman knows the legal system well and treats his clients with
respect, enabling the family to uphold its self-respect. He responds to his client
promptly and with compassion, always ensuring that integrity remain the cornerstone
of his business.
Most laymen do not have a clear understanding of how the jail system works and often
get nervous when they or someone dear to them are arrested. Bail bonds get regular
citizens in touch with a bail bondsman, who patiently explains the nitty-gritty of
the process and takes responsibility to get them out of the looming prison walls
into the security offered by their own homes.
Another big advantage about bail bonds is that they take only minutes to get approved
and processed. Also, throughout the United States of America, bail bondsmen are available
on an "on call" basis. Within a short span of time, they can swoop in and save the day.
Taking a look at the other side of the spectrum, the court may also rest assured that
the defendant will appear for hearings and that justice will be upheld.
Not everyone who is released on bail is acquitted, of course, and several safeguards
have been built into the bail law to ensure that the guilty are punished. However, for
the innocent, bail bonds offer a welcome respite from the physical, mental, emotional
and social trauma that most law-abiding citizens would undergo if put behind bars. In
this inherent function of bringing peace to troubled minds lies the importance of bail
bonds.
|