Thursday, November 22, 2018

Calcasieu Parish Bail Bonds Can Help Arrested People Stay Out Of Jail

By Mary Gibson


Every year, law enforcement authorities make many thousands of arrests. The majority of those arrested are ordinary, normally law abiding citizens. Unfortunately, people make mistakes. They sometimes misrepresent their tax returns, they become involved in activities that are risky, they drive after drinking too much and they become involved in fights. Regardless of the reason, being arrested is a serious matter that can cause very severe stress. Thankfully, with Calcasieu parish bail bonds those arrested will not languish in jail after their arrests.

An arrest is only made if there is a reasonable likelihood that the person being arrested has committed a crime. Law enforcement authorities have to follow rules, however. They have to honour the rights of those arrested and these rights include the right to remain silent until an attorney is present. When arrested, it is vital to appoint an experienced criminal defence attorney immediately and to do nothing and say nothing.

One of the first priorities of the attorney will be to ask the court to release his client from custody until is case is scheduled in court. The majority of those arrested are granted a release, but only if the court is sure that they will not interfere in the case, try to flee from justice or pose a danger to themselves or others. Release from custody is not a right and depends upon the good judgement of the court.

Sometimes accused are released on their own cognisance, but in most cases they have to post an amount to serve as security. This amount varies from case to case. If the accused is not able to raise the money, he can approach a bondsman. Bondsmen specialize in providing almost instant loans to those that must pay surety to the court in order to be allowed to go free.

Bondsmen are business people and they make their money by charging their clients a hefty service fee. This fee can be as high as fifteen percent of the total loan amount and can easily be thousands of dollars. The accused will also have to enter into a written agreement with the bondsman and he may have to pledge assets such as his house to serve as security.

Many people get a big shock once they get the time to properly study the agreement that they signed with the bondsman. Those eager to be released from custody often do not bother studying the terms and conditions of the loan and they simply sign, often to their own detriment. That is why it is best to leave all dealings with bondsmen in the hands of the attorney.

Breaking the conditions of release can be the worst mistake an accused can ever make. Not only will they lose the money that they borrowed to pay their surety, but they may be arrested anew. Extra charges may be levelled. The court may be less lenient to grant release once more. In addition, it may be necessary to take out another loan from the bondsman.

Critics say that every arrested person should be locked up until he appears in court. This is not practical, however. The system is already overloaded and, besides, every person has the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.




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