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What is a Bail Bond?

How Does it Work?

Integrity Bail Bonds offers fast and easy bonds

If you are arrested, the court may agree to release you from jail while you are awaiting a court appearance or trial if you pay bail. However, most people don’t have the money that the court sets for bail, which can sometimes be in the tens of thousands of dollars. The more serious the charge, the higher the bail will be. When people can’t pay the money themselves, they turn to us to have the money posted on their behalf.  

Bail bonds explained 

Courts set bail to ensure that people do not leave the area and try to evade legal consequences if they are released from jail. Setting bail is a way to make sure that the person shows up in court and answers for their charges. People who can pay their own bail will make the payment to the court, and when their case is resolved, they will get the money back – even if they are found guilty.  

However, unless the bail is only a few hundred dollars, most people don’t have the money on hand to pay their own bail (and sometimes not even when the bail is low). That’s when people come to Integrity Bail Bonds. They buy a bail bond instead of paying the bail, and the bond is accepted by the courts as assurance the person will show up for court hearings as required and that any fines or other penalties will be paid. There are several types of bonds, including:

We offer bail bonds 24 hours a day throughout Pinellas County.

How bail bonds work 

Let’s say your bail is set at $10,000. You don’t have $10,000. Your friends and family don’t have $10,000 – or at least not that much that they’re willing to lend you. So you visit us at Integrity Bail Bonds and you buy a bail bond. You pay 10 percent of the bail, or $1,000, and we pay the full $10,000 to the court. In purchasing the bail bond, you also agree to show up for all court hearings.  

In addition to the $1,000 you pay, you would also have to show collateral for the remaining $9,000. The collateral will be used to guarantee the bail if you do not show up for court. The collateral could come from equity in your home, a vehicle you own, jewelry you own, or stocks or retirement accounts in your name. If you don’t have enough assets to provide the collateral, you can pay more in cash, or you can get your friends or family members to agree to provide the collateral.  

If you do not appear in court, we will have the right to seize that collateral to pay the remainder of your bail, which the court will demand. You may also have to pay penalties or interest. If you do appear in court, you do not get a refund of your bail bond the way you would if you had paid your full bail yourself. That’s because the bail bond company is taking on a risk by paying the bail for you, while also easing the financial burden on you. The bail bond is what you pay for that privilege.

Want to know more about the history of bail bonds and how they originated, please visit the PBUS Professional Bail Agents of the United States website for all the details.

Need a bail bond? Our compassionate staff is available 24/7

Integrity Bail Bonds provides easy bail bonds with compassion. We are conveniently located across from the Pinellas County Jail, and we do what we can to make it easier for you to pay for your bail bond. We can work with you on payments for your bond, and collateral may not always be required. We also help to manage your court dates to ensure that nothing is missed and you don’t accidentally default on your bond or face additional legal consequences. We pride ourselves on treating everyone with respect and dignity, and we are discreet and confidential. Call us today at (727) 592-0744 to discuss your bail bond or use our secure online form to contact our office.

Why Bail Bonds & the Bail Bond Process is Important

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd Explains at the PBUS Conference

The bail bond process is critical to preserving the integrity of the criminal justice system. Polk County, Florida Sheriff Grady Judd address the Professional Bail Agents of the United States™ (PBUS)™ association in 2021.