No one wants to spend more time in jail than they need to. If you, a friend, or a loved one have been arrested, understanding the Connecticut bail bond process is vital for ensuring a quick release from custody.
For those who may not know, bail is a financial agreement with the court where the defendant is temporarily released from custody upon the payment of a specific amount of money. This bail payment is returned, minus fees, when the defendant meets all conditions of the bail agreement.
Bail serves as a financial incentive for individuals to comply with the legal process, as they risk forfeiting the total bail amount if they fail to appear at future court dates as required. In Connecticut, bail bonds are similar to those in the rest of the United States, with a few important distinctions.
Unique to Connecticut and other states in New England, the total bail amount may be set by a bail commissioner instead of a judge or magistrate. A bail commissioner is a state-appointed person who can recommend or set the total bail amount for persons still in the custody of the local police department prior to arraignment in court.
Under the Connecticut Constitution, a total bail amount must be set in all cases except when the defendant is charged with a capital felony or cases that carry the death penalty. There are two kinds of bonds in Connecticut, non-financial bonds and surety bonds.
With non-financial bonds, the defendant’s signature alone guarantees the total bail amount, and the defendant is not required to post any amount of collateral to secure their release. With the more common surety bond, the court requires the defendant to produce cash or provide collateral, such as real estate, in order to be released. In most situations, they also have the option to retain the services of a professional bail bondsman.
Finding Bail Bonds in Connecticut
When the total bail amount set by the court is too high for you to be able to pay outright, your best option is likely to work with a local, reputable bail bondsman to secure your release from jail.
A non-refundable fee, usually around 10% of the total bail amount, is charged by the bail bondsman in exchange for posting bond on the defendant’s behalf. This arrangement allows the defendant to remain free until the resolution of their case.
It is important to remember that failure to appear in court will result in the total bail amount being forfeited. Defendants should also note that bail bond agents in the state of Connecticut are regulated by the Connecticut Insurance Department. This ensures that the industry operates ethically and transparently.
You can use our online, nationwide database of affordable bail bond professionals to help you find a Connecticut-based bail bonds company in your area. Many bail bond agents offer bail bond services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and offer payment plans to make the bail bonds process as easy as possible for you during this difficult time.
If you have already been granted a total bail amount, you can use our bail bond fee calculator to see how much you’ll likely need to pay a bail bondsman to post bond on your behalf. Day or night, if you need help securing your release from jail, there are dozens of reputable bail bond agents ready to help you!