If you or a loved one has been arrested in Tennessee, you may be wondering how bail bond works in the state. Bail is a deposit of money that must be paid to the court in order for the defendant to be released from jail while awaiting trial. The amount of the bail is set by the court and is usually high enough to encourage the defendant to appear for all their court appointments. The process of obtaining a bail bond begins once a person is arrested and assigned a bail amount.
This amount must be paid in full before the person can be released, but if they attend all their court appointments, the money will be returned at the end of the trial, regardless of the verdict. In some cases, it may be necessary to deny bail, especially if the defendant is a threat to the community or has a history of bypassing bail. If you don't have enough money to pay the full amount of the bond, you can contact a bail bond agency and ask them about getting a flexible payment plan. Most agencies charge 10 percent of the bond amount as a premium for their services.
Once you have secured a bond, it is important to understand that you are responsible for meeting your obligations to the court so that the bond amount will be reimbursed. If you fail to appear at your court appointments, the court will keep the bail money and you may also be subject to additional penalties. If you are able to meet your obligations, however, then your guarantor or guarantor will be exonerated upon surrender of the defendant. This means that they will not be held liable for any costs associated with your case.
In summary, bail bond works in Tennessee by allowing defendants to remain free from jail while awaiting trial by paying a deposit of money to the court. If they attend all their court appointments, then they will get their money back at the end of the trial. If they fail to appear, then they risk losing all their money and facing additional penalties.