FAQ's

How Does Bail Work?

When an individual is arrested, they will either have to post bail or wait in custody until the trial date.  Trials are often set weeks or months from the date of arrest and should not be confused with first appearance.  Bail is a set amount of money that acts as insurance between the court and defendant.

Bail works in a few ways:

The full amount of the bond is posted by the defendant or on behalf of the defendant in what is called a cash bond.  10% of the bond in some cases may be posted directly with the court clerk.  If the defendant attends all court dates, the depositors of the cash bond will receive back their money, minus any court costs, court fees, fines, and other criminal penalties.  

A surety bond is purchased through a bail bondsman.  The purchaser pays a set fee to a bail bondsman who in turn presents the court with the bond.  As long as the defendant does not miss any court dates, no further fees are paid to the bail bondsman.  If a defendant skips bail and doesn't appear at a court date, the bail will be surrendered.  In the event that a defendant's bail is paid through a bail bondsman, the bail bond agent has the authority to locate the defendant and surrender him or her to the court.  

First Appearance:

First appearance is a defendant's first appearance in front of a judge.  Ohio law mandates that when an accused person is taken to jail, they appear before a judge within a reasonable amount of time, usually within 24 hours.  At this appearance the judge will review the case and address the matter of the defendant's bond.  

Any of the following events may happen at first appearance:

A monetary bond amount will be set for a defendant who was arrested under "no bond".

A previously set monetary bond may be revoked and a defendant will receive "no bond" status.

The monetary amount for the bond may be raised, lowered, or remain the same.  

The defendant may be placed on supervised release.  In this case, defendants must report regularly to the pretrial staff until their case is disposed, and may sometimes be required to comply with special court-ordered conditions such as random urinalysis, drug and alcohol evaluations, AA/NA meetings, curfews, ect.

Defendants with significant community ties, who do not pose a threat of danger or risk of flight, may be released on their own recognizance (ROR) and allowed to return to court without any monetary responsibility.   

*First appearance should not be confused with a defendant's arraignment.  In most cases a defendant will not plea guilty or not guilty until their arraignment.

Are Payment Plans Available?

Yes!  With backing from one of the largest bail bond insurance companies in the country, we have the ability to work with your initial financial responsibilities and offer a variety of payment options that get the job done.  

Do You Know of Any Dependency Support Options?

Many times dependency can affect lives in horrible ways.  We have many resources to help get treatment for those who want it.

Have Other Questions?

We have answers!  Our bail bondsmen are available to answer any - and all - of your questions regarding the bailout process, collateral issues, indemnity, payment options, and more!

Contact Us

Phone:

330-599-9408

Address:

3557 Breeze Knoll Dr

Youngstown, OH 44505