Bail bondsmen are critical to the criminal justice system because they help suspects who cannot afford bail. However, many people have erroneous beliefs about bail bond services. Below is an overview of five such erroneous beliefs.

1. Only Guilty People Need Bail Bonds

Some people think they don't need bail bond services because they are innocent. Unfortunately, your need for the service does not hinge on your guilt or innocence.

If the government accuses you of certain crimes, it has the right to put you in jail pending your trial. Detention is the government's way of ensuring your availability in court for trial. However, the law also allows you to post bail as a guarantee that you will appear in court for trial. Thus, you may want to post bail and remain free while waiting to prove your innocence.

2. Bail Bonds Are Only for Felony Crimes

Many people associate bail and bail bonds with serious crimes, like felonies. However, that is not always true because bail laws vary by state. In many cases, bail is necessary whenever the government has the right to detain you while awaiting a hearing. Such circumstances can arise even for non-felony crimes, such as misdemeanors.

3. Bail Bonds Are Expensive

You might hesitate to contact a bail bond company, thinking they are expensive. However, the fact that bail bonds are relatively inexpensive is the reason people use them in the first place. These services are affordable because they only cost a small percentage of the bail amount the court sets. For example, if the service fee is 10% and your bail is $2,000, you only pay $200.

4. Bail Bondsmen Are the Same As Bounty Hunters

Popular media have made many people confuse bounty hunters and bail bondsmen, but the two play different roles. A bail bondsman posts your bail (at a fee) so you can be free while awaiting trial. A bounty hunter tracks down and captures criminal suspects who skip bail.

Bail bondsmen use bounty hunters so they don't lose the bail money they posted on behalf of the suspect. Thus, you won't have to deal with bounty hunters if you don't skip bail.

5. Bondsmen Set the Bail Amount

Lastly, some people think they can get lower bail amounts by negotiating with bail bondsmen. Unfortunately, theis thinking is wrong because bail bondsmen do not set bail amounts. Rather, the court sets the bail amount based on the charges against you, your criminal record, and community attachment, among other factors.

To learn more about surety bail bonds, contact a bail bondsman near you.