What Are the Unintended Consequences of Not Posting Bail?

 Posted on July 23, 2018 in Bail Bonds

Posting bail when under arrest for a serious offense can seem staggering. Depending on the charges, the amount can run into many thousands — even hundreds of thousands — of dollars. 

But some of the hesitation to post bail emanates from not fully knowing how the process works. When a bond is set at $500,000, for instance, posting places one on the hook for just 10 percent of the total. 

From there, it's up to the accused to make the court date to ensure the full amount of the bond isn't triggered. Of course, $50,000 is still a lot of money, and numbers like that could discourage doing anything at all. But that, too, can be a serious mistake. In the following article, we'll show you how by examining some of the unintended consequences. Let's begin. 

Unintended Consequence No. 1: Job Loss

Most employers will not fire an innocent person until they're proven otherwise — at least not for the crime itself. But criminal charges make an employer very uncomfortable, and if you have to miss a lot of work on account of being locked up, you end up giving them an easy out to get rid of you. When you lose a job against your will, you end up having a black mark on your resume that makes it more difficult to find future positions. There's also the loss of money in the short term to worry about — something that can spill over into other aspects of your life. 

Unintended Consequence No. 2: Parental Limitations

When you're in jail — innocent or not — you're not in the position to be there for your children. This, too, can have an impact on your status as a parent should you be convicted of a crime and a spouse or other close family member can prove they're more responsible. At the very least, you have to worry about losing the connection with your kids during the period of incarceration, and while it may only seem like a short while to you, it has a lasting impact on them for many years to come. 

Unintended Consequence No. 3: Depression and Despair

Jails and prisons are not places for people with a positive outlook on life. They often are desolate, overcrowded, and filled with the worst influences. It's bad for anyone, but it can really take a toll on the first-time accused as you work to figure out what brought you to this state. Getting out of jail, even if it's just posting bail, puts you into a better headspace for moving forward. 

Don't Let the Unintended Consequences Come

Value your freedom as much as you can. If you have the opportunity to post bond, take it. It will give you back a semblance of normalcy, and it could be just the boost you need to get through the days ahead. And if you need immediate assistance, contact us ASAP.

[Featured Image by Wikipedia Commons]