What is a bail bonds agent?
If you’re wondering, “What is a bail bonds agent?”, then you’ve either seen a show about a bounty hunter or you need to bail someone out of jail. Luckily for you, we’ve got the answer to this question. Let’s break it down now.
What is a bail bonds agent?
A bail bond agent works for a bail bond company and gives a defendant the opportunity to avoid jail as they await their court date. A bail bond agent typically has to be licensed or educated in order to write bail bonds.
Is a bail bond agent the same thing as a bounty hunter?
No, a bail bond agent is not the same thing as a bounty hunter. Bounty hunters require different education and licensing, and although a bail bond agent and bounty hunter may work together from time to time, their jobs are very different.
A bail bond agent helps a defendant get out of jail as they await trial, and a bounty hunter will return that defendant to jail if that person fails to appear at their trial. A bail bond agent will pay a bounty hunter a percentage of the bail amount in return for their services.
How does a bail bond agent get paid?
As a defendant awaits trial, the court may give that defendant the option to post bail. This means the defendant can pay a refundable fee to the court in order to await their trial at home (as opposed to inside a jail cell). If the defendant can’t afford bail, they can work with a bail bond agent. A bail bond agent will charge the defendant a non-refundable percentage of the bond, and they will post the full bail amount to the court. Eventually, the bail bond agent will have the bail amount refunded to them by the court, and they will also keep the percentage initially paid by the defendant. This is how a bail bond agent makes money.
Want to learn more about bail bond agents?
Check out our additional resources to learn more about bail bond agents and the bail bond process as a whole: