Written by Subject Matter Experts, Updated on April 20, 2020
Getting Money Back from Bail Bondsman, and Bail Money Refunds!
Do you get bail money back? Is Bail Money Refundable?
Yes, you can normally get your bail money back no matter if you are convicted or acquitted of your charges. This applies if you pay for the entire bail and do not use a bail bond. If you get a bail bond, the bondsmen will get their full amount back, but you can not get back the 10% premium that is charged – this amount is non-refundable.
You may wonder if you get your bail money back if the charges are dropped, you are innocent, or if your case is dismissed – the same answer applies. If you pay using your own money, you will get the full amount back no matter if you are guilty or innocent – the refund is based on you showing up to court. If you used a bail bondsman, you cannot get your 10% fee back no matter if you are guilty or not, or if you showed up to court. The bail premium, or 10% bail fee, is not refundable.
Can I get my 10% bail fee back?
No. This is the service fee the bail agency charges; it is called the Premium. Bail bondsmen take on risk and have to do a variety of things to make this work. The 10% fee is simply a way for them to stay in business. It can not be refunded but there are still ways to get bailed out without a 10% bail bond.
The 10% premium is the fee the bail bondsman charges for risking his own money to bail you out of jail. Just like the premium you pay on your car insurance policy, it is not refunded if you don’t wreck your car. A bail bond is a form of insurance that is used to guarantee the appearance of a defendant in a criminal court proceeding. In fact, in many states, bail bondsmen are regulated by the state’s insurance commission.
Frequently Asked Bail Bonds Questions
- 80% of jailed New Yorkers can’t afford $1,000 in bail on small misdemeanor chargers.
- Those who can’t obtain a bail bond are 90% likely to plead guilty.
- Only 40% plead guilty if they can afford a bail bond.
- Those that can’t afford a bail bond spend an average of 15 days in jail.
- With a bail bond, 88% get their case dismissed or resolved without a criminal record.
- Only 38% see their case dismissed or resolved with no record if they can’t afford the bail bond.
To see more information and a nice visual, take a look at our Bail Bonds Infographic with Data and Statistics.
- Ask a friend or loved one to borrow the money to cover the fee. This can present it’s own problems if you are unable to pay them back.
- Look into bail funds to sponsor you and cover your 10% bail bond fee at no charge. Charitable bail funds are limited to certain states although more are introduced regularly due to the sheer need. Visit our page on bail reform for a list of charities that you can reach out to and to learn more about the growing pain and need for bail bond changes so nobody is left behind.
- Obtain a loan to cover you in the short term and allow you to make payments. Our page on bail bond financing and emergency loans will guide you through the application process.
Although it covers the LA market, we go into topics that cover all situations, like how you can negotiate with your bail bondsman to get the best rate, as well as the type of questions the bail bonds agent will ask you to determine if you qualify for a 0% to 3% Down payment. Some of the things that go into consideration are criminal history and flight risk of the person being bailed out, your financial strength, any property assets you may have, and more.
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To familiarize yourself with bail bonds and related information, please browse through the frequently asked questions below.
How much does bail cost for different crimes?
When you post bail, what happens to the money?
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A bounty hunter is hired by a bail bondsman to locate and arrest a person who does not show to court as agreed in their bail bond agreement. Bounty hunters are sometimes referred to as bail recovery agents.
Is a bail bondsman the same as a bounty hunter?
When does a bounty hunter come after me?
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Our Team of Subject Matter Experts
We dedicate ourselves to providing information that is accurate and expertly written in order to assist individuals through a difficult time. Our staff at Bail Bonds Network is highly educated, having obtained prestigious degrees in law, business, accounting, and finance. Our editorial staff includes professional lawyers, bail bondsmen, and lending experts who understand local jurisdictions and intricacies of legal matters dealing with bail bonds.An award-winning criminal defense attorney. He previously served as a state and federal prosecutor and magistrate, making his content contributions extremely relevant on legal and bail related topics.