When you are arrested, the law sometimes requires you to pay an amount that will give the courts an assurance that you will appear for its proceedings. The judge or magistrate is given the liberty to set the bail to an amount that will discourage the defendant from failing to appear for the hearing of his case. Setting the Fee The Court Bail must however not be too high, that it becomes impossible for the defendant to raise it. There are a number of things that determine the criteria the judge will use to set the amount the defendant is required to pay. Some of these things include your criminal history, flight risk and details of your case. The judge will use these facts to try and establish whether there is a risk that you will avoid showing up for the hearing of your case. The amount set will vary depending on what the judge decides and the nature of your case. Some cases are serious and will not give you the option of paying Bail Bonds, while others will allow you to go after you promise to appear for the court hearing. Once an amount is set you will be required to either pay the amount in full, or pay a percentage of the amount to a bonds man depending on your agreement. Consequences of Forfeiture The work of the bail bonds man is to reassure the court on your behalf that you will appear before the judge and that if you fail they will pay the required amount. If you fail to appear as expected, a warrant is issued for your arrest and if you paid any bail, the money will be lost. However, you may be exempted from paying. How Exoneration Works Getting exempted by the court is commonly referred to as exoneration. Exoneration implies that the penalties that were heaped upon you for absconding are lifted. The judge will determine if you deserve exoneration by considering your reasons for failing to appear for the case. Your reasons must be very good. Some of the reasons that the judge can accept as good enough for exoneration are the defendant is suffering from a mental condition, the defendant is disabled and on that day could not appear in court or any other good reason. It is in the interest of the bondsman to see to it that you are exonerated since they do not enjoy pursuing their clients for payment of the bond. It is advisable to consult the bondsman after forfeiture to avoid paying the court bail. Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cyber-law-articles/4-things-you-should-know-about-posting-bail-bonds-sacramento-6543549.html
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