Bail Bondsmen

A bail bondsman is a licensed professional who provides a financial guarantee to the court that a defendant will appear for their scheduled court dates. When someone is jailed, they or their family can contact a bondsman to post bail on their behalf, typically in exchange for a non-refundable fee—usually about 10% of the bail amount. If the defendant shows up as required, the court keeps the fee; if they skip court, the bondsman is responsible for paying the full bail, and may take steps to locate the defendant.