Bail Bonds in Tampa Florida: Your Right to Post Bond
If you've been arrested in or near Tampa Bay or anywhere else, for that matter, you have certain rights that cannot be denied. One of the first is your right to a first appearance hearing within 24 hours of arrest. In the Tampa Bay area, the first appearance hearing or "advisory" hearing will be done via video feed from the jail. In regards to posting bond and being released from custody until such time that your trial arrives or an agreement is reached in relation to your charges. There are many things to remember when searching for bonds, and below you'll find information that you'll need as you attempt to regain your freedom and prepare your defense.
When Bonds Are Determined
At First Appearance, the Judge, by law, must consider the issue of pre-trial release. During this hearing, details are offered such as the accused's employment status and criminal history, and the nature of the charges are also considered. At that point, the judge will decide that either the defendant can be released on his or her own recognizance, that he or she must be detained until trial, or that the defendant can post a bond that sets the defendant free until trial. Having a Tampa Bay criminal defense attorney from Fluke Palma & Seiden present at the First Appearance can be extremely helpful in getting a bond set or reduced.
The Purpose of Bonds
The purpose of a bond is to provide financial security to the court system that will mitigate the chances that a defendant will flee the jurisdiction before the trial is held. If a defendant does flee, the bond is "revoked," and the court system collects either the money or the collateral that was pledged to secure the bond.
Getting Bonds in Place
If you need to post bond, you will either have to go to the jail and post the bond with cash, or need to contact a licensed bail bondsman to secure the note that will allow for your release. Depending on the size of the bail that the judge sets, you'll sign an agreement with your bail bondsman whereby the bond agent posts your bail and you pay the agent a fee for assuring your release. Typically this fee is 10% of the bond amount. If you fail to appear at the courthouse, your bond will be revoked and you'll forfeit whatever assets you offered to the bail bondsman as collateral.
Overall, you have rights after you've been arrested, and one of those is the right to post bond if the judge rules that you can be released from prison until your trial date. If someone other than the judge tells you that you don't have the right to post bond, it simply isn't true. Contact a Tampa Bay criminal defense attorney from Michael D. Fluke, P.A. and we will help you obtain a bail bondsman today to regain your freedom.
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