Tampa Bail Bonds Explained

In the United States people who have been arrested are considered to be innocent of a crime until proven guilty in a court of law. In Florida, people who have been arrested and who have been arrested and have not been charged with a capital offense are legally entitled to bail. A similar rule applies to anyone who has been charged with a capital offense, but the Florida bail hearing in capital and life cases are called “Arthur hearings,” after the case State v. Arthur, 390 So. 2d 717(1980.). If someone you know has been arrested and you want to help bail them out of jail, there are several ways you can proceed.

Posting Bail in Tampa, Florida:

  • Cash bail: This entails taking the full amount of the set bail to the jail, in cash. The money is refundable to the person who posted it, less fees for administration, at the conclusion of the criminal proceedings. The return of cash bail is not immediate, and will often take a number of months. If the defendant decides to willingly miss a court appearance, the money posted as cash bail is considered forfeited.
  • Tampa bail bond: If you choose to hire a Tampa bail bondsman from Roche Bail Bonds, our bondsman will post a piece of paper at the jail, called a Florida bail bond, which promises the defendant will appear back in court when required. The cost to purchase Florida bail bonds is 10% of the total amount of the bail ordered by the court. This is a non-refundable fee that is paid to our office for the service we provide. As long as the defendant returns to court when required, there will be no additional fees required.
  • Property bond: If you own real estate that has equity equal to twice the amount of the defendant’s bail amount, you may be eligible to put up your property in lieu of cash bail or a Florida bail bond. The deed will be returned at the conclusion of the case. As with a Florida bail bond, if the defendant decides to skip out on court obligations, the property will be forfeited to the court.

The office of Roche Bail Bond is prepared to assist you in the process of securing a Florida bail bond for your friend, family member or even an acquaintance. Call our office at 866.469.1650 to talk to a specialist today!