Tampa Bail & Bond Lawyer
Upon arrest, most defendants are given the opportunity to leave jail until their next hearing. Financing bail, however, is simply impossible for many families. However, by working with a bail bond attorney and licensed bondsman, a defendant can leave jail for a fraction of the cost of their bail. At The Matassini Law Firm, P.A., our Tampa bail & bond lawyer provides fast, reliable, honest service to clients in need. If you or a loved one is being held in a detention facility, we can help you get them out as soon as possible.
How Bail Works
After being arrested, a defendant is usually given the option to get out of jail in the short term so that they do not have to spend days, weeks, or months behind bars before their next hearing or trial. Bail is set based on the severity of the crime, the severity of the crime, the defendant’s previous convictions, and the likelihood that the defendant will appear in court when next required. Bail is set by the court to deter a defendant from skipping out on hearings or leaving town. If the defendant appears in court, bail is eventually returned. If they fail to appear, the defendant—or whoever posted bail—loses out on that bail money for good.
How a Bail Bond Works
Most people who end up in jail cannot pay the full amount required to post bail. In these circumstances, they may choose to hire a bail bond agency. The defendant pays 10 percent of the bail, which they never get back, to the agency, and the agency pays the rest. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bond agency loses out on that bail money, though they will go to extreme lengths to get it back from the defendant—sometimes by using bounty hunters.
Why You Need an Attorney To Post Bail
It may be tempting to contact a bail bond agency right away so as not to spend another wasted minute in jail, but this is strongly discouraged. By contacting an attorney first, your attorney will be at your bail hearing, where he or she will have the opportunity to persuade the judge to lower your bail (so that you can pay the full amount, or so that the 10 percent premium you pay to the bond company is a lower amount), or to release you on your own recognizance, which is simply a written agreement promising that you will show up in court when called upon. While you still may end up utilizing a bail bond agency, never do so until you have first spoken to an attorney.
Call a Tampa Bail Bond Lawyer Today
We understand the fear, worry, and anxiety that you or your loved one is facing as they await their bail hearing in jail. We strongly encourage you to contact an attorney as soon as possible to reduce the bail amount. Our Tampa bail bond attorneys have invaluable advice and expertise that will vastly benefit you or your loved one in the weeks and months to come. Call The Matassini Law Firm, P.A. today at 813-217-5715 to schedule a free consultation.
