By Melissa Lampert, KHTS Staff Writer
If your loved one decides to “skip bail” after you bail them out of jail, the bail agents of All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita want you to understand what would happen.
“A person has skipped bail if they fail to appear at all of their scheduled court hearings, including their judgement day,” said Inessa Chavez, vice president of All American Bail Bonds. “This basically means they have forfeited their right to stay out of jail during their court case.”
The first thing that usually happens in this instance is the defendant’s original bail is revoked by the court, while a bench warrant is issued for the person’s arrest, according to the Bail Resource Center & Career Academy.
“Regardless of whether the defendant is innocent or guilty of the charges against them, failing to appear at a court hearing is a crime in itself,” Chavez said. “The penalty for skipping bail is usually jail time, and that’s in addition to any time the person would serve if they are convicted of the original charges.”
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The bail agent who posted the bond allowing for the defendant’s release from jail then has to try to find the person so they can be returned to custody, and in doing so exonerate the bail.
If the agent can’t locate the person within six months, they are responsible for paying the entire bail amount to the court, plus additional court costs. These costs would be recovered from the indemnitor, meaning the person who purchased the bond to bail their loved one out of jail.
“When signing a bail bond contract for a loved one, the indemnitor is agreeing to accept responsibility for the defendant– and that includes the full dollar amount of the bond if the defendant skips bail,” Chavez said.
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Potential indemnitors should make sure they completely understand the terms of a bail contract before they sign it, Chavez added, noting that her bail agents encourage their clients to ask questions if they need clarification.
“We’re here to help you 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Chavez said. “We make every effort to ensure your experience is as positive as possible given the difficult circumstances, and that your loved one is released from jail and back home as quickly as possible.”
Article Source: “California 20-Hour Bail/Recovery Pre-Licensing Education, Volume 1” by the Bail Resource Center & Career Academy
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23360 W. Valencia Blvd. #E
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
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If your loved one is in custody and they wish to talk to an All American Bail Bonds representative, call:
818-990-0003 or 661-267-6777
