Question: Can someone explain bail bonds and bounty hunters?

(Posted by: Ivy on 2006-07-17 18:19:17)

Husband and I were watching Dog Bounty hunter, we were curious the way it works with the money? The whole process really it looks to us like he makes a good deal of money.

Posted by: trafficer21 on 2006-07-17, 18:23:19

Bail bond is money to be paid to the court to make sure that you would return on the date of your trial, a deposit of sort. When you call a bond company, they pay the bail for you and charge you an interest with an understanding that you would go to trial on your scheduled date. If you appear for your trial, the bond money gets the bond money back. If you miss the date, the bond compnany loose their money. Thus they need to hire bounty hunters to hunt you down and drag you back to trial.

Posted by: warriorwoman on 2006-07-17, 18:27:24

Bail is money or property rights deposited with a court to ensure that a person charged with a crime will appear in court. If the person charged can't afford the price, for typically 10% of the price a bail bondsman will post the bail. If the person then "skips " (doesn't show up in court), the bondsman is out the entire bail. So, he/ she might have to hire a bounty hunter to find the person to get their money back. Sorry, don't know how the bounty hunter gets paid.

Posted by: Tom-SJ-CA on 2006-07-17, 18:32:15

'Bail' is paid to the court by the defendant to guarantee that they will show up for trial. No show, and the court keeps the money. The amount of bail is usually so high that you will think twice, or more, about leaving town. If you don't show, the court sends the sheriff to find you. If you don't have all that cash, then bail bond companies will loan you the money - you put up 10% (usually cash or property) and they loan you the other 90%. They promise to the court that if you skip bail, the court will get the full amount. If you skip, the bail bond company will get a bench warrant, and send Dog or equivalent after you to bring you back. (Bounty hunters are licensed, and are officers of the court.) If you play it smart and decide to show up to court, the bail bond company keeps all of your deposit - that's how they earn their money.