Should You Bail Someone Out of Jail?

When a friend calls you in the middle of the night and asks you the bail them out of jail, many times a person wouldn’t even think about it before saying yes and heading over there. But, before you agree, there are some things you need to consider. You need to remember that if you post their bail, you are now in charge of making sure they appear in court. If they fail to, the money you used to post bail will be forfeited.

So what do you need to consider before making this decision? You need to decide just how much you trust this person. If you have complete faith that they will show up for their court date, go for it. If not, it’s probably not in your best interest. You need to understand what your friend is being charged with. Say your friend committed a crime against another friend, or even family. Posting bail could put you in the middle of this situation, which is probably not somewhere you want to be. Finally, consider an alternative. If you don’t want to assume the responsibility, hire a bail bondsman. This can protect your assets, while also getting your friend out of jail.

So here are some tips to officially decide whether you should say yes or no when your friend calls you in the middle of the night, and what to do after:

• Make sure you know the defendant well enough that they will not let you down if you say yes. Long-term friends, spouses and family members are usually good bets. You should know their home address, their family’s address, their employer/school and places they frequent.
• If you say yes, stay involved. Remind them of their court dates – maybe even drive them to court. Don’t give them the opportunity to skip out, no matter how much you trust them.
• Also make sure you collect your collateral when the case ends. A bail agent will return your collateral and close out any legal paperwork once the case is over. Your name needs to be removed from the bond, or you may still have some problems if your friend fails to meet court-mandated requirements.
• If you decide to use a bail bondsman, make sure they are professional and know what they are talking about. They need to be properly licensed and fully inform you of the process without making you outrageous promises.

If you decide to use a bail bondsman, contact Andrew Pizzo Bail Bonds today.