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About Bail
AboutBail.com is a Nationwide Directory of Bail Bond Agents, Criminal Lawyers, Investigators, Immigration Bondsmen, Jails, Courts and more. Aboutbail.com's comprehensive database and resources provide our users with instant access to the local help they need.

Professional Bail Agents of the United States
PBUS is pleased to introduce a national board agency certification program through which bail bond agencies may achieve an added mark of excellence and demonstrate a further measure of exemplary service to their clients and their communities. Congratulations to Anytime Bail Bonding, Inc. for joining Braswell Bail Bonds, Roche Bail Bonds, and Eastern Bail Bond Agency, Inc. as the only National Board Certified Agencies.

New Jersey Department of Corrections

The New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) is pleased to present "MRSA: Preventing Outbreaks in NJ Prisons" and "MRSA: What You Need To Know." The videos, brought to you though a collaborative effort between the NJDOC, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) and Correctional Medical Services, were produced in the interest of the welfare of both offenders and staff in NJDOC facilities who may be exposed to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, an antibiotic-resistant skin infection of varying severity.

New Jersey Attorney Directory

At the law offices of James M. Porfido, Attorney at Law, our criminal defense practice is focused on protecting the rights of our clients with strategic, experienced and result-driven advocacy. From your initial consultation through the final resolution of your case, we focus on protecting your rights and interests.

What is a Bail?

Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail (and possibly be brought up on charges of the crime of failure to appear). In some cases bail money may be returned at the end of the trial, if all court appearances are made, no matter whether the person is found guilty or not guilty of the crime accused.

What is a Bail Bondsman?

A bail bond agent, or bondsman, is any person or corporation which will act as a surety and pledge money or property as bail for the appearance of a criminal defendant in court. Although banks, insurance companies and other similar institutions are usually the sureties on other types of contracts, for example, to bond a contractor who is under a contractual obligation to pay for the completion of a construction project, such entities are reluctant to put their depositors' or policyholders' funds at the kind of risk involved in posting a bail bond. Bail bond agents, on the other hand, are usually in the business to cater to criminal defendants, often securing their customers' release in just a few hours.

Bail Laws in New Jersey

New Jersey Bail Laws Information

How do Bails Work?

The bail bond is a contract between the bail agent (bondsman), the courts,and the person posting the bail (co-signer). The bail agent is the person who is responsible for the defendant showing up for all their court appearances.

Money is required by the court as an incentive to keep the defendant from fleeing once released. The bail agent gets a portion of the bond as their fee. Notes or other collateral are required to make sure that the bail agent will get paid.

The amount of money required for bail is set by the court and is dependant on the severity of the crime as well as how much of a flight risk the defendant is. The bail agent gets a percentage of the bail amount decided by the judge for that particular defendant.

The bail agent provides a guarantee to the court that the defendant will appear in court when summoned by the judge. The defendant will also have to check in regularly with the bail agent.

Bail bonds are granted when a family member or friend contacts the bail agent before the defendant is released. Arrangements are made for the posting of a bail. After an agreement is signed, the bail agent posts a bond for the amount of the bail, to guarantee the defendant’s return to court.

If the defendant fails to check in, and the bail agent or the co-signer are unable to locate the defendant, the co-signer is immediately responsible for the full amount of the bail. After the defendant is located and arrested by the bail agent, the co-signer is responsible for all of the bail agent's expenses while looking for the defendant.

Defendants have the option of arranging for their bail through a bail bondsman or paying the court directly the full amount. When using a bail agent, the defendant provides collateral to the bail bondsman. The bail bondsman or bail bond company agent will then guarantee to pay the court if the defendant fails to appear, by posting a surety bail bond power of attorney with the jail or court.

After the defendant has completed all court appearances and the case is closed, the bail bond will be dissolved and any collateral given to the bail bondsman will be returned to the defendant or whoever posted the bond.

A co-signer always has the responsibility to ensure that the defendant appears in court as and when required. The co-signer must know the whereabouts of the defendant at all times and must immediately notify the bail bondsman if the defendant has moved.

Since the co-signer’s collateral is at risk if the defendant fails to show up as summoned, it is advised to be cautious when it comes to keeping an eye on the defendant. Remember all fees are the responsibility of the co-signer if the defendant can't or is unwilling to pay.