Felony Bonds vs. Misdemeanor Bonds: What You Need to Know

handcuffsWhen you are charged with a crime, it’s usually classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony. What you are charged with will determine the penalties, punishments, bail amount, and whether or not you are eligible for bail. When you’re in need of bail money, a bail bonds place can help. At Freedom Bail Bonds, we offer both misdemeanor and felony bonds. Here are some of the things you need to know about felony and misdemeanor bonds.

The Differences Between a Misdemeanor and Felony

The biggest difference between a misdemeanor and a felony is that people are usually charged with felonies for bigger crimes. Some common felonies include:

  • Murder
  • Rape
  • Aggravated assault
  • Possession of a controlled substance (over a certain amount since this can also qualify as a misdemeanor under a certain amount)
  • Burglary over a certain amount
  • Kidnapping
  • Arson

These crimes are seen as “elevated” crimes. Misdemeanor crimes are usually to a lesser degree. Some common misdemeanor crimes include:

  • Petty theft
  • Vandalism
  • Trespassing
  • Reckless driving

The punishments for each crime depend on whether it’s a felony or misdemeanor, the amount in question (if applicable), and whether you have any past convictions or not. For misdemeanors, penalties include fines, probation, jail time of up to a year, and community services. Typically, jail time is spent in a county jail, rather than a prison, and some sentences can be completed on the weekends only. Felonies, on the other hand, result in higher fines, longer jail times (in actual prisons), and other punishments.

Bail for Felonies vs. Misdemeanors

Misdemeanors tend to result in bail of a lesser amount than bail money needed for a felony. In addition, some people who are charged with felonies are never granted bail. This is usually reserved for high crimes such as murder and rape. While bail amount for misdemeanors can be in the thousands alone, bail amounts for felonies can reach the millions. Even though you only have to pay ten percent, this can still be a huge chunk of cash. This is where bonds come in. Bonds from bail bonds agency bail you out at the time, so you can stay at your home and have more time to prep for the trial. Felony bonds are typically greater in price and come with more paperwork (since there is a greater risk involved) than misdemeanor bonds. Luckily, at Freedom Bail Bonds, we offer both. If you or a loved one is in need of a bail bonds agency, call us today!

What Can Impede a Quick Jail Release After an Arrest?

an empty jail cell signifying quick jail releaseIt’s everyone’s worst nightmare: you are arrested and find yourself facing the prospect of spending the night in jail. There are many reasons you may get arrested, from simple misdemeanor or bench warrants to more serious crimes. After your arrest, there is a process that is followed which can arrange for you to get quick jail release: posting bail. However, there could be a number of things that can actually prevent you from either qualifying for quick jail release or from being able to post bail. At Freedom Bail Bonds, we’re here to give you a little more information on these processes.

How Do I Post Bail?

When you are initially arrested, you are read your rights, processed through the police system, and given a phone call. The best use of this phone call is to your family, your lawyer, or a close trusted friend. Depending on your crime, there are two ways you will be able to post bond:

  • For most common and minor crimes, there is a list of pre-set bail amounts. This makes the process simple, since all you have to do is find a bail bondsman, pay the amount, and get out of jail. Quick jail release is pretty standard and simple in those cases.
  • For more serious crimes, you will have to be put in front of a judge. Unfortunately, in these cases it can take some time for you to be able to see one. In fact, there are cases where the police may even decide to arrest you on a Friday, therefore impeding your ability to see a judge until the following Monday. In these cases, the term “quick jail release” should be viewed in terms of days instead of hours.

How is Bail Decided?

As we mentioned, for more common crimes, there is a set bail amount that you can usually pay and get a quick jail release. For more serious crimes, a judge will decide what a fair amount for bail is. For serious drug crimes, murder, and other violent crimes where flight is a very real possibility, the judge will be within their rights to set a high bail amount.

In What Circumstances Can Bail be Denied?

In the cases of serious crimes, the judge can decide that bail can be denied. This is usually the case if the crime in question is murder, violent assaults, and other similar crimes. In cases the accused is deemed a continuing danger to the community or an especially determined flight risk, bail is also usually denied.

There are times that bail can be denied for different reasons, usually called “red flags”. These can include:

  • The suspect is not a US citizen, therefore a serious flight risk.
  • The suspect shows no regard or respect towards the court.
  • The judge is told by a credible source that the suspect will not show up to court if released.
  • The suspect has a history of missing court dates.
  • There is a confirmed mental impairment and there is no one to supervise the suspect if released.

Contact Freedom Bail Bonds for Quick Jail Release

Whether or not you fall into the categories above, you have every right to fight for quick jail release after you are arrested. Freedom Bail Bonds provides fair and reliable bail bonds in El Paso, and can help you get out of jail quickly. Let us help you post bond- contact us today!

3 Things To Do After Being Arrested

Close up of a man's hands in handcuffs after being arrested for a misdemeanorGetting arrested can be a terrifying thing no matter the circumstances. Often the arrest can happen in a whirlwind of events. This only makes the whole situation more uncomfortable and confusing.  Of course once you are sitting in a jail cell the first thought to enter your mind is usually “How do I get out of here?”. Well there are several things you should do after being arrested that can help get you released faster. One of these is getting bail bonds from a trusted source. In El Paso, Freedom Bail Bonds has helped many people get out of jail quicker and easier.

Get Info on Your Charge

First things first, you need to find out what you are being charged with. This makes big difference in how much bail money you might need, or if you will even be allowed to make bail. For example, having  misdemeanors charges gives a better chance of getting out of jail then a criminal charge. While these two charges might sound similar they are very different. For example misdemeanors usually have penalties and little to no jail time attached to it. Typically you find out what your charge is fairly easily. Either the officer in charge of your arrest will inform you, or a court attorney will tell you. By law, if you ask they have to get the info to you.

Contact A Relative

Once you know what your charge is, you need to contact a relative or someone you trust to come get you. This is where you should make us of the ‘one phone call’ you are allowed. If you have a criminal charge leveled against you, then it might be wise to get a lawyer right off. If you have misdemeanors charges against you, then advise your contact to get bail.  

Make Bail

Lastly, you will want to get bail bonds to get out of jail. Even if the fee or penalties is on the lower end, bail bonds offer security and peace of mind. When you find a good agency they can help you get your loved out of jail, even if you do not have the full amount required. They often have different options to pay, including putting up collateral.  

Contact Us Today

Ending up in jail is never a convenient thing. As most business close early in El Paso, getting help can be super difficult. This is why Freedom Bail Bonds is available to help you out 24/7. No matter the circumstance, we can help you get your loved one out of jail sooner. Visit us today to get the help you need.

Get Your Loved One Out of Jail with a Bail Bond

bail bonding

It’s a question no one ever wants to ask, and a situation no one wants to ever be in: how to get someone out of jail. When a person gets arrested in the state of Texas and booked for a serious crime they must wait in jail until a bail bond hearing. At the bail hearing, the judge will set the bail amount. If the person cannot afford the bail bonding service, they must wait in jail until their court date, but there is a better option!  Bail is a process by which you pay a set amount of money to obtain your release from police custody. As part of your release, you promise to appear in court for all of your scheduled criminal proceedings.

The Process of Posting Bail

When you “post bail,” you are paying the amount that your bail was set at. This can generally be done in a few ways, including:

  • Paying by cash or check in the amount of your bail.
  • Signing over ownership rights to property that has a cash value that is equal to or exceeds the amount of your bail.
  • Giving a bond (a promise to pay if you do not appear) in the full amount of your bail.
  • Signing a statement that says you will appear in court at the required time, generally called “being released on your own recognizance.”

Most bail bonding agents typically charge 10-15% of the full bond amount. This can be higher or lower depending on the circumstances and the location of the arrest. Different counties charge different administrative fees. You will not get this money back. You can also sign over collateral or property like a house, car, jewelry, or other goods that can help guarantee that the defendant will show up to court.

Experienced Bail Bonds Services

Since being established in 1985, Freedom Bail Bonds has been providing West Texas with efficient and reliable 24-hour bail bonds services. Whether you need a quick jail release, you can trust that we can handle your case. We understand that everyone makes bad decisions from time to time, and some of those bad decisions result in arrest. We are here to make sure you get out and get your life back on track.

Contact us Today

When contacting a bail bonding agent, have as much information as possible including the full name of the person in jail, what jail they are in, their booking number and what charges. When you are looking for reliable and fast bail bond services, trust Freedom Bail Bonds. We have over 30 years of experience and even provide handy court reminders so you can keep your life on the right path. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. We also offer a variety of payment plans upon approved application. Contact us today for more information.

Types of Misdemeanors and Their Penalties

hands in handcuff behind backBeing arrested for a misdemeanor, while may not be as serious as other charges, can still come with heavy consequences. If a loved one is in jail for any reason, you probably want to get them out as quick as possible. The circumstance does not change, even with smaller charges. While the charges and penalties are smaller, you will still want to seek out bail bond assistance to avoid jail time.

What are the Penalties for Misdemeanors?

As you may already know, there are different levels, known as classes, of misdemeanor crimes.

Class A – These are the most serious types of misdemeanors. A conviction of a Class A is punishable with the most severe consequences. This can include up to $4,000 in penalties and up to one year in jail. Resisting arrest, a second DWI or assault with bodily injury are a few examples of this kind of crime.

Class B –  These are the second class and less severe than Class A. Class B are punishable with up to 180  days in jail and fines up to $2,000. A first DWI, criminal trespassing, and vandalism are just a few examples.

Class C – Class C are not punishable by jail time. A person can still be arrested for a class C crime and fines can be up to $500. Sometimes a judge may order community service time.

What Can Be Done

If your loved one has been arrested for misdemeanor crimes, you can seek out the help of a bail bond agency to get them out of jail. While the bond, fees and jail time might be less severe, it is always good to have the peace of mind that bonds can offer.  It is as simple as contacting the right bail bond agency and getting the process started. While you may not have the full amount required that is set by the judge for bond, you can still get your family member help. A bail bond agency will pay the bond while you put up collateral in the form of property. The fee you pay is only a portion of the actual bond.

Contact Us Today

At Freedom Bail Bonds we offer 24/7 help. If you have found yourself in an emergency situation, are bondsman can help you get your loved one out of jail. We know all too well emergencies never happen at a opportune hour.  Be sure to contact us for more information.