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To get your loved one released from custody as quickly as possible, you will need to help them post bail. The first step in this process is finding out exactly how much the bail amount is. There are various ways to do this, including using online methods. Find out to use these, as well as which methods are the fastest and most reliable, below.
How does bail work?
Before we get into the details of how to look up an individual’s bail amount online, it helps to have a good understanding of how the bail process works. Bail is a payment made to the court as a guarantee against the defendant not showing up for their trial.
Posting bail allows the defendant to be released from custody pending their trial, and as long as all the conditions of bail are met, the money will be refunded to the person that posts it. However, if the defendant flees, or otherwise does not meet the conditions for their bail, the person posting the bail will become liable.
Using online tools to find out a bail amount
One of the most important pieces of information you will need when getting someone released on bail is the amount it is set at. Finding out how much bail will be as soon as possible will help you speed up the process and ensure your loved one is released quickly.
There are 4 ways to find out how much the bail amount is set at, and one of these is using online services known as inmate lookup tools. These databases pull information from other sources online and can provide data on an individual’s bail amount, as well as their charges, and where they are being held.
The problem with inmate lookup tools is that they are not run by official sources, and so may not always be very reliable. These online databases also take time to be updated which means they are not the fastest way of discovering how much an individual’s bail amount will be.
Alternatives to searching for a bail amount online
Instead of using unreliable and slow online tools to look up an individual’s bail amount, you can use one of the three faster and more reliable alternatives below.
Option 1: Contact the arresting organization or courthouse
One way of finding the bail amount of a defendant quickly is to contact the arresting organization such as the sheriff’s office or police department that made the arrest and ask them for their help.
You can also contact the county courthouse, as they will hold these records after the arraignment hearing has taken place. Numbers for your local police departments, sheriff’s offices, and the county courthouse can be found online or in the phonebook.
Option 2: Get in contact with a licensed bail bondsman
Bail bondsmen are professionals that specialize in providing bonds for people that have been charged with a crime, and wish to be released from custody while they await their trial. A bail bondsman will be able to tell you the bail amount for free, as well as provide you with a range of other services and support such as communicating with the facility that is holding the defendant, as they will have experience working with the organizations involved.
Contacting a bail bondsman as soon as possible is a good idea because it will help to ensure the bond is issued quickly, which can speed up the process of getting an individual released.
Option 3: Contact an attorney
Another person that will be able to tell you how much the bail amount for a defendant will be is their attorney. This is because they will be able to access this information from the court. Engaging an attorney at this stage is also a smart move because they can not only begin working on the defendant’s case but often can negotiate a reduction in the cost of the bail amount.
Conclusion: Should you use online tools to find out someone’s bail amount?
While it is possible to use online services like inmate lookup tools to find out an individual’s bail amount, it is not always the fastest or most efficient way of going about things.
Instead, if you are looking to get your loved one released from custody as fast as possible, working with an expert like a professional bail bondsman is much more effective. This is because they will not only be able to help you discover the bond amount but provide you with access to a bond quickly, thereby speeding up your loved one’s release.
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