Did a loved one or friend get arrested? Did they call you to help bail them out of jail? At Five Star Multiple Services, we understand the fear and frustration you must be going through. No one likes getting a collect call from their friend or family member explaining they’ve been arrested. That’s why we are open 24-hours a day, seven days a week for you. If you’re in need of a bail bond, give us a call now!
In this post, we’ll share a brief history of the bail bond and how things were much worse back in the 13th century when it came to jail, holding cells, and criminal punishment.
The 13th Century
In 13th century England, the prison conditions were awful. Those held for criminal charges, whether innocent or guilty, were treated horrifically. Some of the common criminal punishment techniques included water torture or burning at the stake.
These punishments influenced prisoners to escape at all costs, or if they were released on “bail” (it wasn’t invented just yet), they would not return to court due to the terrible fate they may have to face. It was easier to live on the run than be tortured.
Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster in 1275 to take the decision-making process out of the Sheriff’s’ hands when it came to who got “bail” and who was kept in custody. Prior to this statute, the Sheriff decided who got released on bail and who had to stay. It was a judgment call on who would return for their court date and who was most likely to run. Parliament removed this common problem across all towns and determined which types of crimes were allowed bail and which ones were not.
Bail Reform Act of 1966
For hundreds of years and through the infancy of America, the “bail” laws stayed relatively the same. The system Parliament began to change in 1275 remained, which meant those in unfortunate financial situations could do nothing but wait for the courts to decide the fate of their loved ones.
Fortunately, US Congress passed the Bail Reform Act in 1966. It reformed law to allow the release of the charge in all non-capital cases “on his own recognizance.” This means that unless the arrested was being charged for a capital crime, they could post bail, and be released from jail under certain terms, agreements, and conditions mandated by the court.
The federal justice system noticed a flaw in their Bail Reform Act in 1966, which was pointed out by the District of Columbia. Some of those released on non-capital cases were committing more crimes. This became a focus for the justice system, and another change was made to address this growing issue.
Bail Reform Act of 1984
US Congress passed the Bail Reform Act of 1984 to address non-capital cases where the accused are released on bail, and they commit more crimes while not in custody. The reform added, “safety of the community” to the literature, which gave the judge the power to determine if the individual was able to post bail or not, even though they were not being charged for a capital crime.
The new version of the Bail Reform Act included the following guidelines to detain the accused without bail if they:
- Commit a drug-related or violent crime
- Commit an offense that carries the penalty of death or life in prison
- Commit any felony and also have a serious criminal record
- Intimidate jurors or witness and obstruct justice while out on bail
- Pose a risk to others and the community
How Do Bail Bonds Work Now?
A bail bond is a way for the defendant–the individual arrested and accused of a crime–to get out of jail prior to their assigned court date. A bond is a financial guarantee between the court and the bail bond company that the defendant will appear in court at a later date. In most cases, the bail amount is expensive, and most don’t have that kind of cash on hand. This is where your local bail bond company can help.
A bail bond company charges a percentage of the total bail amount to guarantee that the defendant will show up in court at a later date, which offers those unable to financially afford their total bail amount an opportunity to get out of jail until their court appearance.
Five Star Multiple Services: Your Bail Bond Company in Aurora
Discovering that a friend or family member is in jail can be frightening. They call you collect and let you know that they’ve been arrested, which jail they’re being held in, and ask how soon you can bail them out. You probably ask how much bail will cost, and when they tell you, it feels like you’ll never see them again.
At Five Star Multiple Services, we understand how scary it can be to deal with the justice system, but you’re not alone. We’re the bail bond company in Aurora available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All you have to do is give us a call now, and we can get bail posted within a few short hours.