214-747-4110
163 Pittsburg Street, Suite A2, Dallas, TX 75207
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909 E. McKinney St., Denton, TX 76209
972-562-6057
1502 W. University Suite #101, McKinney, TX 75069
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No-showing a court date creates a nightmare scenario for more than just the accused. The most obvious problem to arise is the money issue, but it goes well beyond that. In the following article, we'll be discussing all the ways that failure to appear can ruin your life and relationships. Let's begin.
Many times, people accused of serious crimes rely on friends and family to post the 10 percent required for bonding out. That means if your bail bond is set at $25,000, a loved one put up $2,500 on your behalf, provided you were unable to pay for it yourself.
No-showing your court date means they lose their money and the full amount of the bond is due. Beyond the obvious financial impact of that, you've likely lost a friend or family member you could count on to be there for you during troubled times.
People accused of crimes often are not first-time offenders. As they are drawn into a life of crime, their actions will escalate to more serious offenses. Not showing up for a court date will almost always come back to haunt these people because it shows future judges you can't be trusted — something they'll factor in the next time they're faced with whether to grant bail.
In the US, judges usually prefer granting bail to keep with the code of law one is innocent until proven guilty. But that doesn't always mean it's a slam dunk. Sometimes the circumstances of a crime or the circumstances of the accused's life can lead to higher bail amounts or flat-out denial.
Repeat offenders are particularly susceptible to the more stringent rulings. But what exactly does the court look for when making these determinations? In the following article, we'll be discussing considerations for when it isn't your first offense. Let's begin.
When you have more than one arrest on your record, it automatically increases the odds that you won't be granted bail or that the amount set will be so high you can't even afford the 10 percent bond-posting fee that most bondsmen require. That said, there are plenty of cases where your past doesn't factor in. For instance, if you have a record but it isn't one filled with serious or violent felonies, then the court likely will treat your current charge as a first offense.
Bail bonds are not an exact science. Depending on the charge you face, it can be anywhere from minuscule to too-expensive-to-afford even by the 10 percent posting standards.
Sexual assault is one of the more serious charges that will give a judge pause before he decides a case is bond-eligible. While a recent sexual assault bail amount in Spain was set at the U.S. equivalent of just $7,000, our country — and especially, the state of Texas — takes the charge more serious.
Even so, there are a variety of factors in play before a final amount can be determined (or if the case will be bail-eligible at all). Let's have a look at each one.
The court will look at the nature of the sexual assault charge, the background of the alleged perpetrator, and their proximity to the victim when making the determination if an immediate harm exists (i.e., is there a significant chance of recurrence during the time the alleged attacker is free). It also should be noted that immediate harm could apply to the accused. If he or she is a danger to themselves, the court may prefer them to be under closer supervision. Furthermore, if a family member of the alleged victim has made threats and presents a plausible danger to the accused, it may be best to hold them in protective custody.
The ability to get out of jail when arrested is the only one that matters when you are faced with incarceration. If you're new to it, all you can think about is how you don't belong. How all the obligations of home and work are going unchecked.
You're not even thinking about a legal strategy. Only how your life might be falling apart without you. Fortunately, there are several ways you can get out of jail. Here are the most common:
For light misdemeanors, particularly first-time offenses, it's not uncommon for a judge to allow your release without setting bail. Generally, the crime you committed must be non-violent, and you should be relatively stable in your home and professional life. Don't expect this outcome if your offense put others in danger.
Cash bonds also are reserved for low-level crimes where the suspects are not at risk of leaving town or no-showing their court appearance. These bail amounts can be $1,000 or less. The suspect or their supporters might even be able to cover the full amount without the need for a bond service.
A lot rides on the mandatory court appearance following an arrest and subsequent bail. From the perspective of the accused, no-shows can create a lot of problems legally, financially, and personally. If you do manage to post bail, here's what is at stake should you fail to comply with the hearing date.
Many times individuals who post bail are unable to do so without help from a friend or family member. Failure to show for a hearing can result in forfeiture of the bond, which means your friend or loved one loses their money, and a warrant is placed for your arrest. We'll get into the forfeiture and arrest aspects in a moment, but for now, let the personal aspect resonate.
Betraying a loved one in such a manner can create future problems, especially considering the high rate of recidivism. According to the National Institute of Justice, more than three-fourths of individuals arrested for a crime are rearrested within five years of release. Failure to show up will ensure that person is only there for you once.
The cost of bail can seem staggering if you don't know how the system works. And truthfully, it could be. Bail costs are set by the court, and they're contingent on the nature of the crime as well as the suspect's probability as a flight risk.
If you have exhibited a history of criminal activity, that could give judges pause to grant any bail whatsoever. A best-case scenario would mean bail that's higher than normal.
On the flip side, if you're accused of an isolated offense and your record is otherwise spotless with a stable work history, bail is more likely to be granted. However, the nature of the crime (murder, for instance) could result in a rather large sum.
The cost of bail generally is administered through a felony bond schedule, and this can be different by county. It's generally updated each year, and it can be used (or not) at the discretion of the court. But just to give you an idea, a state jail felony with a below average risk is around $1,000; for average risks, $1,500; and for above-average risks, $15,000.
How long will it take to get released from jail is one of the more common questions you will come across when researching the bail process. It's understandable. Jail is a nasty place where your freedoms go to die, and any time there as a 'guest' is too much.
When you're in jail, you march to someone else's orders and life as you knew it on the outside changes in some not so flattering ways.
So if you are arrested, what can you expect?
It's not uncommon for booking and bail to take no longer than three hours. But really, it depends on your means and your support unit. Do you have the money on your own to post bail? If not, do you know someone who will go to bat for you?
Intake is generally a quick process unless you have been booked into county jail, which takes longer than municipal detention facilities. It involves the mugshot and fingerprinting. That leads to your one entitled phone contact. In this case, you'll need to arrange with a bail bond officer yourself or have someone else do it for you. But not all bail bondsmen are the same. Some have a 'guilty until proven innocent' approach. They make the process unnecessarily difficult with poor customer service and a judgmental overtone.
Contempt of court, in simple terms, is when you disrespect the authority of the court. That sounds rather arbitrary, but certain factors must be in place before you can be found guilty of such a crime.
(And yes, you have to be found guilty of it. Judges can't just exercise this authority willy-nilly, contrary to popular belief.)
The threat of jail time has fueled many a nightmare since America's prison system emerged, and since 1991, our Doc's Bail Bonds Farmers Branch location near Denton has helped to quell some of those fears.
Give Doc's a call should you require bonding services at the Farmers Branch Detention Center. Our Denton office serves that location, and we are located close to the site, allowing us access to key personnel and working knowledge that will make for a smoother overall service to incarcerated persons and their families.
The Farmers Branch Justice Center is the technical name for the building where detention services are managed. The site employs 16 detention officers overseen by Lt. Chris Damours. Damours' procedures and employees work well with Doc's Bail Bonds, and everyone there takes their work and the safety of the inmates very seriously.
When you hire Doc's Bail Bonds, either for your own needs or the needs of a loved one locked up at Farmers Branch, we automatically know whom to contact, whom to pay, and other steps to take to ensure a quick release. Whether you're the one in jail or not, an arrest can cause ripples throughout the family. We don't want that to happen, and we will do everything in our power to lessen the impact.
Posting bail can be a confusing process when you are unfamiliar with local procedures, locations, and personnel, and that's where Doc's Flower Mound Bail Bonds office near Denton can help.
Contact Doc's if you or your loved one find yourself in the Flower Mound Jail. We have an office nearby, and we are plugged into how Chief Andy Kancel and his staff operate. We maintain an intimate knowledge of how the jail does business, who is on duty, and what they expect from you.
The Flower Mound Jail is housed at the same location as the Flower Mound Police Department at 4150 Kirkpatrick Lane in the sprawling Dallas suburb. If you or a loved one is arrested, this is your next stop.
When you contract with Doc's Bail Bonds at the Flower Mound location, we will contact and remit the required payment, so the life of you or your loved one does not have to be placed on hold between now and the next hearing date. Getting your day in court doesn't usually follow a straightforward, predictable timeline. Posting bail helps ease pressures that go along with the waiting game.
With six offices in 5 counties, Doc's Bail Bonds serves the following areas, including but not limited to Dallas, Denton, McKinney, Bonham, Garland, Sherman, Allen, Frisco, Richardson, Carrollton, Irving, Mesquite, Farmers Branch, Flower Mound, Lewisville, The Colony, Dallas County, Fannin County, Denton County, Collin County, and Grayson County.
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