FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about bail in Meridian, Idaho? Read through our bail bonds FAQ for some of the most frequently asked questions about how do bail bonds work in Idaho below. If you have another question, post in the form below.
We’re proud to be the best Meridian bail bonds company to answer your frequently asked questions about bail. We’re available to chat 24 hours per day, so if something is not answered in this FAQ, please reach out and contact us or call ###-###-####
How do bail bonds work?
If arrested in Meridian, Idaho, a defendant will be issued a bond to be released from jail. You have two ways of paying a bond:
1. Pay the court 100% of the bond to the Ada County court.
2. Pay Meridian bail bonds 10% of the total plus the jail fee plus a $10 fee.
Paying a Meridian bondsman ensures you save 90% of the bond payment. That savings on bail can be used to pay for an attorney, rent, food, etc.
Once you pay your bond, you will be released from jail within a few hours.
Either way, you will need to abide by the rules of the court, failure to do so may have your bond forfeited and you returned to jail.
How much do bail bonds cost?
You will pay 10% of the bond total and we provide 100% of the bond to the court.
Take for example a bond cost of $10,000. Instead of paying $10k to the court, you pay only $1,000 to our firm.
You’re able to get a friend or family member out of any Idaho jail at a fraction of the cost. You will also be required to pay Ada County Sheriff and jail fees depending on the county where the defendant is being held.
What is a bail bond?
A bail bond is a contract between a defendant (possibly an indemnitor), our local bail bonds company and the courts.
Why should I use a bail agent?
You save 90% of the entire bail fee when using our services. When you use a professional, licensed, bail agency like Meridian Bail Bonds, you’ll only pay 1/10th of the cash bail (or 10%). This saves you 90% of the total bail amount. You can then use the savings to put towards attorneys or other expenses that may arise due to an arrest.
What information do I need when I call a bondsman?
You should have the following information for your bail bondsman:
1. The defendants full name;
2. Where they may have be incarcerated;
3.Defendant date of birth.
4. Criminal charges;
5. Bond amounts;
6. Will they have a cosignor?
Don’t panic if you don’t have all of the details. A Meridian bail bondsman will be happy to get the information for you to expedite the bail process and to answer anything not mentioned in this FAQ.
What happens if the defendant doesn’t show up to the court?
If the defendant fails to comply with the rules of the court, which is to show up to all court appointments, a warrant will be issued for that defendant.
At this time Meridian bail bonds will attempt to locate the absconder and place them in jail. This will void the bond. A new bond amount will be issued and, most likely, no bail bonds company in Meridian will write the bond due to the defendant fleeing.
Although, some other bail bonds company may write a new bond if 100% of the bond was covered with collateral. We would inform all co-signors what is entailed, and the costs involved.
How do I calculate the bail premium?
Bail is calculated by a 10% premium. Meaning, you will need to only pay 10% of the full bond in order to be released from Ada County jail.
Example: If the defendant’s bail is $50,000 then the bail premium you would need to pay is $5,000.
This FAQ goes into some detail about bail calculation, but for more detail and even bail financing options, please visit our free Idaho bail bonds calculator.
Where do you write bail?
Meridian Bail Bonds agents provide bail services in Nampa, Pocatello, Caldwell, Idaho Falls, Mountain Home, Boise, Coeur d’Alene and all Idaho locations throughout the state.
What is a cosignor?
A cosignor (indemnitor) is someone who takes financial responsibility of the bond if the defendant skips and fails to appear to their court appearances.
Is the bail fee refundable?
The fee you pay to a Meridian bondsman, the premium, is non-refundable. Instead of having to pay the full bail amount, we cover 100% of the bond – saving you 90% of the entire cost.
Bail (surety bond) is a form of insurance and guided by mainly insurance companies.
Consider when you pay your own insurance where you have a deductible or copay – that is what a bail bond payment is most like. Which is why it is called the premium (as in Insurance Premium).
What are your hours?
Knowing that an arrest can happen at any time, and when you least expect it, Meridian Bail Bonds is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week and 365 days per year.
We have bail agents standing by to answer any questions not covered in this FAQ you may have.
We never close and are even open on all holidays.
What form of bail bonds are there?
Cash Bail: this is a bond paid directly to the court for release from jail. The defendant must abide by all court rules in order to stay on the bond (this includes any rules set forth by Boise bail bonds). These rules can include: No drinking or drugs Show up to all court appointments and hearings. Have no interactions with law enforcement. Have no interactions with the victim(s) Attend drug/alcohol/anger management or other form of counseling.
Property Bonds involve using real estate property as collateral in exchange for the freedom of an arrested individual while they wait for their court date. This type of bond can include putting up a house or lot owned by either the defendant or a family member to secure release.
Surety Bonds involve an individual or organization acting as guarantor on behalf of someone paying their bail. For example, Idaho Bonding Company is a licensed guarantor who can supply the portion of your bail you cannot pay immediately. Upon payment, the defendant or cosigner guarantees that any legal requirements set by the court will be met and will provide compensation should any issues arise.
Immigration Bail Bonds involve situations where an arrestee has been identified by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as an illegal immigrant and requires specialized services from ICE-approved agents for release from custody.
Personal Recognizance Bonds are sometimes given when courts deem defendants not likely to flee and have little likelihood of re-offending before trial – usually low-level misdemeanors such as petty thefts or public disturbances. A judge may allow release without requiring payment based on trustworthiness alone.
Citation Bonds involve cases where only minor offenses have occurred, such as traffic violations or misdemeanor charges; instead of waiting in jail until their hearing date, defendants are allowed to sign promises that they will appear at the appointed time before being released on their own recognizance.
Federal Bail Bonds are used when individuals commit federal crimes like bank robberies or white collar crimes like tax evasion. Since these generally carry lengthy sentences upon conviction, federal courts require higher levels of security than regular state courts do when releasing defendants pending trial dates.
I have more questions about bail. Who do I contact?
If this FAQ has not answered all of your questions about bail, please send a message via our contact form. Any question you ask about bail will be added to this Frequently Asked Questions page.
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