If you watch a lot of TV shows or movies that are about crime, you have probably heard quite a bit of legal jargon, so much so that you may think you are an expert. When we hear the same words and phrases over and over, we think we know what they mean, but often we find out we are partially or completely wrong. Bail vs. bond is a great example. These are terms that get thrown around a lot and are often used interchangeably. Though they are related, bail and bond do not mean the same thing. This will help you get a better understanding of each of them:

What is bail?

When someone is arrested, he or she will have to pay a certain amount of money in order to be released. These funds will allow the person to be “bailed out,” which means that they can go back to their normal lives until their court date . Because there will be a trial that the defendant will have to show up for, there is a caveat to bail money. As long as the person arrives for the court date, that money will be returned. If not, it is gone forever.

What is a bond?

Because bail can be costly, in many circumstances a person does not have the entire amount, or they are unable to get it from friends or family. In this case, a bond can be used to secure a release from jail. This means that a bond company pays the bail. A bond is essentially a loan that requires some sort of collateral to be put up, such as a car. The bond company will pay a percentage of the bail and will have to pay the rest if the defendant does not appear for trial.

Bail vs Bond

If you or someone you know gets into trouble with the law and needs bail money, you have a couple of different options. You can use the money you have in your bank accounts and/or seek funds from other people. And while you may have enough to get out of jail, this may not be the best idea. If this completely taps you out, you will be out of jail, but this could put a severe strain on your day-to-day living expenses. This is why a bond could be your better choice. With a bond, the bond company puts up the money. As long as you have some collateral – which still stays in your possession – all you will be on the hook for is the bail bondsman’s service fee, which typically is not that high. A bond gets you home quickly and does not take a chunk out of your finances.

Around the Clock Bail Bonds makes the bail process easy

Getting arrested is stressful enough; you should not have to worry about bail on top of it. This is where Around the Clock Bail Bonds can be a huge help. We can provide bail bonds at all hours of every day, so no matter when you need us, we will be available.