Arraignment is a part of the criminal justice process that many people talk about, but very few people actually explain. When someone is arrested in Ohio on suspicion of committing a crime, arraignment will be one of the first things they go through after that arrest.

At HB Bail Bonds, our job is to offer Columbus bail bonds and not legal help, we do understand how the arraignment process works very well, as it is directly tied to the process of posting bail.

Here’s a guide on what someone can expect if they’ve been arrested and charged with a crime in Columbus, Ohio, Cincinnati,  Dayton, or the surrounding areas in Ohio.

What is Arraignment?

Arraignment is the term for a person’s first court appearance after an arrest. In Ohio, typically the amount of bail is set by a judge at arraignment. It is common for defendants and their families and friends to seek out the services of a bail bond agent in Columbus, Ohio after an arraignment concludes.

The purpose of an arraignment is for a defendant to formally hear the charges against them and enter a plea. An arraignment is not a trial, there is no evidence presented or arguments made.

In some cases involving minor misdemeanor charges, a defendant may not even need to appear at an arraignment if their attorney is present to hear the charges and enter a plea on their behalf.

Entering a Plea At Arraignment

By far the most important thing for a defendant to do at arraignment is enter a plea, whether they plan to find affordable bail bonds in Columbus or not. This happens after the charges have been formally described and constitutional rights under the law have been explained, and will determine whether the case moves forward to trial.

There are three plea options at arraignment:

• Guilty
  • The defendant admits to the charges brought against them. This will essentially close the case and avoid a trial. The judge may enter sentencing immediately after a guilty verdict or set a hearing for sentencing at a later date.

• Not Guilty
  • The defendant denies the charges and maintains that they did not commit the crimes they are accused of. This will not necessarily lead directly to a trial – there are more steps in-between – but it will continue the legal process leading up to a trial.

• Nolo Contendere (No Contest)
  • In a nolo contendere plea, the defendant claims that they did not commit the crime in question. However, similar to a guilty plea, this plea indicates that a defendant cannot fight or refute the charges brought against them, and will accept sentencing for the crime.

How to Get Bond Money Back After Arraignment

One of the biggest questions for people, whether they work with a bail bond service in Columbus or not, is about how to get bond money back.

The good news about having a bail amount set at arraignment is that it is intended to be temporary. Bail money is essentially held as collateral to ensure that a defendant will appear for their scheduled court appearances. As long as the defendant appears at all necessary court appearances, the bail money will be returned at the end of the process, regardless of the verdict.

In fact, if a defendant enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, bail will be returned almost immediately. However, if a defendant fails to make regular court appearances related to their case, bail money will not be returned at any point.

Paying Cash Bail

When cash bail is paid out-of-pocket, assuming all court appearances are made properly, that money will all be returned at the end of the trial or criminal proceedings.

However, bail amounts can be as little as a few hundred dollars or as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on a number of factors including severity of the charges – felony bond conditions are typically more difficult to meet than for misdemeanors.

Paying By Surety Bond

It is often not feasible to pay a large cash bail out of pocket, and that’s why it’s so important to find a reputable bail bond service in Columbus.

When a defendant or their loved one posts bail using bail bonds in Columbus, Ohio, they often obtain what’s called a surety bond. This allows them to pay 10% of the amount of total bail to a bail bond agent in Columbus, and the bondsman in Columbus will cover the rest of the bail. The downside of a surety bond is that at the conclusion of the trial, they do not receive the 10% back – this is kept by the bond agent as the fee for service – but at no point do they have to pay the full amount of the bail.

This is a much more attainable way for many people to post bail on large amounts, and HB Bail Bonds even offers no money down bail bonds in Ohio so they can pay that 10% over time!

If you are in need of bail bonds in Columbus, Ohio, Dayton, Cincinnati or any of the surrounding areas, contact HB Bail Bonds today and let us help you or your loved one post bail after arraignment!

Surety bonds are used in all sorts of places, from businesses to banks to construction contractors. In the most basic sense, a surety bond is a monetary promise that someone will fulfill their duty or action to another.

In construction, a surety bond may, for instance, guarantee that a hired contractor will perform the work described in their contract. If the contractor doesn’t complete the work, the surety either arranges for a new contractor to complete the work or refunds the money paid to perform it.

That’s the basic premise, but what you really want to know is how all this applies to bail bonds in Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Dayton, Ohio.

Columbus bail bonds, much like bail bonds in Cincinnati or anywhere else, are surety bonds. They guarantee that someone who has been arrested on suspicion of a crime will appear in court when bailed out of jail.

Here’s how that works.

What Does it Mean to be a “Surety?”

Unlike a cash bond, which has only two parties (the court and the person paying the bond), surety felony bonds have three involved parties:

• The obligee (the court, as the party requiring action to be performed)
• The principal (the person who has been arrested and must appear in court)
• The surety (the third party issuing the bond and guaranteeing that the principal will meet their obligations to the obligee – in this case, appearing on their court date)

In this case, a bail bond agent in Columbus, Ohio like HB Bail Bonds is acting as the surety company – they are posting the bail and therefore making a financial guarantee that the principal will show up in court at the appointed time.

So in short, a surety is a third party that guarantees (in the form of cash bail) that the principal will appear in court when they are bailed out of jail.

What if That Guarantee is Broken?

The role of a surety bondsman in Dayton, Ohio or Columbus or Cincinnati is to post a bail bond as collateral for the principal’s scheduled appearance in court. The felony bond conditions require your bail bond service, in Columbus, Ohio or elsewhere, to post the full amount of the bail.

As long as the principal fulfills their obligations (appears in court at the scheduled times), the bond is returned to the surety in full, regardless of the verdict in the case. However, should the principal fail to show up in court, thus breaking that guarantee, the bond is not returned to the surety.

To protect against this possibility, the bail bondsman takes a 10% fee and secures collateral (this could be a car, jewelry, house, etc.) from the principal or their family. The 10% fee is kept as profit regardless of the outcome, but if the principal does not appear in court, the bail bondsman will be out the entirety of the bond amount, and will look to recoup that cost from the posted collateral.

So, in a case where bail is set at $1,000, working with a bail bondsman in Columbus, Ohio means you can walk in with $100, and the surety bond company will cover the other $900 of the bond. As long as the principal appears in court, that’s all you’ll ever have to pay.

At the conclusion of the court proceedings, the $1,000 bail will be paid back in full to the surety company, and the $100 will be kept as a fee.

Contact HB Bail Bonds for Affordable Bail Bonds in Ohio

Whether you’re looking for affordable bail bonds in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dayton or Columbus, HB Bail Bonds is here for you. Our mission is to make it easier and more affordable to post bail for a loved one, even if you don’t have all the cash you need for the bail up front.

Contact us today and see how we can help.

Bail can be a complicated process, made only more complex by the stressful situation it is a part of. Bail is an amount of money set by the judge to secure the release of an accused person while they wait for their trial. It can also be used as a form of collateral to ensure that the accused returns for their later trial date. Once an amount of bail is set, the accused can pay it to the court to get out of jail, with the stipulation that they will return for their court date. While bail for misdemeanors is typically set around $500, that number can vary based on several factors, with more severe crimes having a much higher amount set. If you’ve been arrested and are trying to make bail, HB Bail Bonds can help. Our professional bail bondsmen have years of experience helping people get out of custody, so they can await trial at home. 

One of the biggest questions people often ask when posting bail in Ohio is whether or not they will get their money back. Most often, a standard bail bond is put into effect. Also known as an “appearance bond” or a “10 percent bond,” it requires the accused to pay the court a deposit of 10 percent of the determined bond amount. If the accused appears at each court date, at the end of the case, they will get back 90 percent of the 10 percent they submitted of the total bond amount. If at the conclusion of the trial you are found Not Guilty or the charges are dismissed, you will get 100 percent of your bail deposit back. Also, if your case is resolved in any other way, your deposit will be refunded minus administrative fees, court costs, and fines. 

It’s important to note how critical it is that you show up for your court date if you are released on bail. If you do not appear for your court date, you instantly forfeit your bail deposit, and a warrant is issued for your arrest. 

At HB Bail Bonds, we know that this is an incredibly stressful time. We want to make it easier. We do everything we can to get you or your loved one out of jail. We bring all the necessary documentation and paperwork to the court so you don’t have to worry. Whether you need help paying or don’t understand the process of bail, our Columbus Bail bondsmen work with you throughout the entire process. Call us at (614) 928-3450 today to learn more. 

Posting bail in Ohio can be a complicated affair. Bail is a financial guarantee that, if released from jail while awaiting trial, an accused individual will appear in court. The judge overseeing the case sets the amount of bail, and it can vary depending on the individual’s history, the police report, and the prosecutor’s recommendation. Bail is typically cash, a bond, or some form of property that acts as financial collateral. In most cases, if the accused appears for all their court dates, they will get most of their bail back minus court fees. However, if the individual fails to appear, those funds are forfeit and a warrant is issued for their arrest. There are a variety of different types of bails and bail bonds that a court can set, each with their own stipulations. 

Property Bond- A property bond is a bond that allows the arrested individual to submit real estate or other such property as a bond to be released from jail while awaiting trial. Often this type of bond requires a deed, tax statement, mortgage statement, or other form of documentation illustrating the property’s legitimacy and value. If the defendant fails to appear in court, said property can be foreclosed, and the court can collect the owed bail from the proceedings. 

Recognizance Bond- A Recognizance bond, also known as a signature bond or being released on your own recognizance, is the easiest bail to deal with. It is a written and signed agreement that the individual will return for their court date. No cash is required, no bills submitted, all you need is a signature.

Cash Bond- Cash bonds are one of the most common forms of bail bonds and are very straight forward. A cash bond is a financial guarantee held by the court that the accused will appear for their court date. If the individual shows up, they will get their bail back minus any incurred court fees. If the individual does not make an appearance, the court keeps the bail and the money is forfeit. 

Surety Bond- If an individual is unable to post bail, they will turn to a bail bond company, such as HB Bail Bonds. We give loans to accused individuals so they can post bail and get out of jail. In Ohio, there is a state-regulated fee of the bail posted. 

Going through the process of arrest, bail, and the ensuing court appearances is extremely difficult, especially if you’re unable to post bail. At HB Bail Bonds, we can help. We can get you out of jail by putting up the cash necessary for a small fee. If you need help posting bail, contact our professional bail bondsman to discuss your options today.