Bonding Process

 

Getting Started with the Process

 

Often, we get calls from people who are anxious to bond out their loved ones who have just been arrested.  They want it done and they want it done NOW! This is totally understandable, but somewhat misguided.  Once a defendant is arrested, the booking process can sometimes take hours.  In order for us to do our job, we need multiple pieces of information from the jail that we usually cannot get until the defendant is fully booked.  The defendant is considered fully booked (by the jail) when his charges are showing in the online inmate database.  In our experience, the average time for a defendant to be fully booked once at the jail is about 2-6 hours, depending on who is working an how busy intake is at the jail.  And, just because a defendant calls from booking and declares that he can be bonded because his fingerprints and mugshot have been taken doesn't mean he's actually fully booked (there is usually at least an hour lag between pictures and prints and being fully booked).

 

NOTE: Sometimes, even though the inmate database is not showing the defendant as fully booked, the booking officer will give us the information we need over the phone.  However, that is not the norm.  With that being said, we recommend that everybody stay put until the defendant is at least close to being fully booked.  Otherwise, we will sit at my office for an extended period of time, gazing into each other's eyes.  I usually win when it comes to a staring contest.

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Steps

• Arrest -- Obviously, this is usually the most traumatic part of the process.  Staying calm and being polite to the arresting officer(s) is the best course of action!

• Transport -- Once there is an arrest, the defendant needs to be transported to the jail.  This can take a while depending on where in the county the defendant has been arrested.

• Booking -- When the defendant arrives at the jail, the booking process begins.  This includes turning over property, dressing out, mugshot, fingerprints, and data entry.  The time it takes to book someone into jail varies widely depending on multiple factors, such as:

       -- Number of people being booked -- Sometimes, a defendant will be the only person being booked.  However, that is rare.  Usually, there are multiple              people in the booking area which can seriously affect booking times.

       -- Shift change -- This usually occurs around 5:30 to 6:00 a.m. and p.m.

       -- Short-handed -- Just like you and me, the people who work in booking get sick.  Should one or more call in sick, it can slow the entire process down.

       -- Lunch/Dinner Breaks -- Just like you and me, the people who work in booking need to eat.  They usually stagger their breaks, but it still can have an              effect on the time.  

       -- Warrant verification -- If a defendant gets arrested in Marion County on an out-of-county warrant, then the warrant needs to be verified with that                       county. This process can take an extended period of time due to the fact that Marion County is waiting for an answer back from the other county.

       -- Defendant Behavior -- If the defendant is non-cooperative or being downright obnoxious, then the booking officers cannot do their job.  Being polite                and cooperative to the booking officers can expedite the booking process!

 

• Paperwork at bail bond office -- This usually only takes 10-15 minutes, unless the defendant has an inordinate number of charges.

• Release -- Release times can vary widely once a bond has been delivered to the jail.  Over the years here in Marion County, we have had defendants released in as quickly as 30 minutes and we have had defendants released in 10 hours.  The average release time is approximately 3 hours!  However, all of the factors listed above that affect booking times can also affect release times.  We can usually gauge the situation and give you a ballpark figure, but don't hold us to that number!  Again, it all depends on the jail.

 

First Appearance

There are certain offenses that require a defendant to go to first appearance in order to get a judge to set bail.  In addition, if a defendant has been booked in before a certain time at night and a bond has not been delivered to the jail within approximately 10 minutes of first appearance starting, then that defendant will also go to first appearance.  At first appearance, a judge has the option of raising, lowering, or keeping the same bail amount.  If a defendant goes to first appearance, we are unable to bond the defendant until first appearance information has been entered into the jail computer! This normally occurs between 1 and 3 p.m.  However, If we are able to find out ahead of time what the bond amounts are, then we can proceed with the paperwork.  However, the jail will not start processing the bonds until the first appearance information has been updated in the jail's computer system.

 

"Quick Release?"

I see many bondsmen here and throughout the state say that they have a "quick release" program, as if they have a special, faster way of getting a defendant out of jail that other bondsmen don't have.  This is just not true.  They must follow the same procedures that all other bondsmen must follow and do not have a special "connection" or method that allows them to speed up the process.  DON'T BE FOOLED OR MISLED!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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