Three Questions To Consider When You're Asked To Post Bond
When someone in your close network of contacts gets into a little trouble with the law, it's possible that you might get a phone call from the person asking for assistance. Oftentimes, assistance in this situation comes in the form of being asked if you can post bail. Upon finding yourself in this predicament, your first priority is to decide whether you feel comfortable posting bail yourself or whether you'd rather visit a bail bonds agency to have it handle this responsibility. Posting bail for someone who has been arrested is a major decision to which you must give serious consideration. Here are some valuable questions to ponder before you decide how to proceed.
What's The Nature Of My Relationship With The Person?
Much of your decision on whether you should post bail for the person or seek the help of a professional bail bonds organization depends on your relationship with the person who has been arrested. It's ideal only to put up your own money if you have a close relationship with the person and you don't believe the person would do anything to jeopardize the money you've put up. Family ties are often closer than relationships with friends, but you should always exercise extreme caution if you're being contacted by a family member with whom you don't speak regularly.
Do I Trust The Person To Obey The Conditions Of Release?
Someone who skips bond after you've helped get him or her out of custody will put you on the hook for the money, which can leave you and your family with a significant financial burden. Think about whether you trust the person will stay local, attend scheduled court appearances and, in general, avoid further trouble with the law. If you're concerned that the person lacks reliability and might be a risk to leave town or the state, it's a warning sign that should dissuade you from getting involved.
Why Do I Want To Do This?
It's important to think deeply about your true reason for wishing to post bond for the person. While there's no universally "right" reason, it's generally not a good idea to post bond for someone so that he or she "owes" you or because you believe it will make your relationship stronger. For example, if you wish to win back an estranged partner, you shouldn't view posting bond as a way to restore this relationship. If you can't think of what you deem to be a truly ideal answer to this question, you're better off involving a bail bonds agency like Yusef Odeh Bail Bonds.