This glossary should help demystify the jargon often encountered when dealing with bail bonds. Keep it handy as a quick reference guide during what can be a complex and stressful process.
Bail: A financial guarantee that a defendant will return to court for all required hearings and proceedings.
Bail Amount: The sum of money set by the court that must be paid to secure a defendant’s temporary release from custody.
Bail Bondsman: A licensed individual or agency that provides surety bonds to defendants in exchange for a fee.
Bail Schedule: A predetermined list of bail amounts corresponding to specific offenses, used as a guideline by judges.
Cash Bail: A type of bail where the full amount is paid in cash to the court.
Collateral: Assets such as property or valuables used to secure a bail bond.
Co-Signer: An individual who agrees to take responsibility for the bail bond and the defendant’s court appearances, also known as an indemnitor.
Defendant: The person who has been arrested and charged with a crime.
Exoneration: The removal of all bail responsibilities, usually occurring when a case is concluded.
Failure to Appear (FTA): When a defendant does not show up for a scheduled court date, leading to the forfeiture of the bail bond.
Forfeiture: The loss of the bail amount when a defendant fails to appear in court as required.
Indemnitor: See Co-Signer.
Own Recognizance (ROR): Release from custody without the need for bail, based on the defendant’s promise to return to court.
Premium: The non-refundable fee paid to a bail bondsman, usually a percentage of the total bail amount.
Property Bond: A type of bail where property is used as collateral to secure the defendant’s release.
Remand: When a defendant is held in custody without the option for bail.
Secured Bond: A bail bond backed by collateral such as property or other assets.
Surety Bond: A bail bond secured through a bail bondsman, who pledges to pay the full bail amount if the defendant fails to appear in court.
Unsecured Bond: A type of bond where the defendant is released on their signature alone, agreeing to pay a set amount if they fail to appear in court.
Warrant: A legal document authorizing law enforcement to arrest an individual for a specific offense.
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