When it comes to bail bonds, there are typically two types that people choose from. The cash bond and the surety bond. Both have benefits and drawbacks but it really comes down to the resources you have available and what will work best for you and your situation. Here is a rundown to give you a better idea of how both work.
Working with the courts or a third party
With cash bonds, you will work directly with the courts. Once the bond cost has been established and lets the cost is $5,000. What it means if you went with a cash bond is that you would need to pay the courts $10,000 in order to be released and with the promise that you will show up for your court dates. A surety bond, on the other hand, means that you will be working with a third party ( a bail bondsman) that will act as insurance and help negotiate your release with the courts.
How many resources you have matters
One of the biggest differences between a cash bond and a surety bond is the vast difference in the amount of money you need to have on hand. When dealing with a cash bond, you will be required to pay the entire amount upfront while with a surety bond, you will only need 10% on hand right away. There is a catch to this, however, while you need to pay everything in advance on a cash bond, if you show up to your scheduled hearing then eventually the money will be refunded. With a surety bond, that 10% is the fee it costs to work with a bail bondsman so that money will not be refundable. Of course, most people do not have such large sums of money readily available so the bail bonds industry does provide a much-needed service but it is something to think about.
Paying fees now or later
The final difference between surety bonds and cash bonds is the fact that with cash bonds since they go through the courts when you eventually get a refund, you will notice some money missing and that is because the courts will automatically deduct any court fees and fines from that bond amount. This is different from a surety bond however because since you do not go directly through the courts, they do not have access to take that money so those fees will be billed later down the line.
Overall, although they both have the same end result, the effect on the defendant can be very different and many things should be taken into consideration when choosing what will be best for your own personal situation.
