The bail bonds process is extremely useful and simple enough to grasp – you call up a bail bondsman with good references and a reputable history and you request their services. On the other hand, what many people do not realize is that it is helpful to your chosen bail bondsman if you have certain information on hand before calling them.
Not only does this help your bail bondsman right off the bat, but it quickens the process; resulting in happiness on all ends. As a bail bondsman in Oklahoma City, Laurie Poole is aware of the information necessary to get the bail bonds process started and she is happy to share that information with her readers in hopes of making their future needs easier to meet.
Defendant’s Personal Information
Before calling your chosen bail bondsman for assistance, make sure you have the defendant’s personal information on hand. You will want to know their current address and phone number, and of course their full name and maybe even their date of birth. If you find any other information that might be useful, do not be afraid to include it.
Any Previous Records of Defendant
Has the defendant been in a similar situation in the past? You will want to have any information on past criminal offenses committed by the defendant, as well as the history of the court proceedings. While working at her Oklahoma business, Asset Bail Bonds, Laurie has come across this issue more often than not: someone will call and request services, but they will not have the information necessary on past records. This is why Laurie recommends discussing the topic with the defendant before requesting a bail bondsman’s services.
Jail Location
When you are discussing bail arrangements with the defendant, make sure you get the address and phone number of the facility they are incarcerated at. You will want to give that information to the bail bondsman right off the bat, as the jail location is a very important part of the bail bonds process. In addition to the address and phone number, it is not a bad idea to have contact information for the judge or clerk in charge of the defendant’s case. Remember that all of this information can be found with a simple phone call where talking to the defendant is not even necessary.
Amount of Bail
You probably know that the judge is the one who sets bail for defendants, so it is important to keep up to date on the bail bonds process in that respect. After the defendant attends their bail hearing, they will have the necessary information required to hire a bail bondsman. Furthermore, it is also important to be aware of the fees associated with bail bondsmen. Laurie Poole has worked in the OKC bail bonds business long enough to know that the fee charged by most bail bondsmen can range from 5% to 15% of the total bond. In Oklahoma, the typical fee is 10% of the total bond. With Asset Bail Bond’s Edmond bail bond services, the fee is only 9%.