If someone you know has been arrested in Southfield and has asked for your help to pay for bail, there are many things you should know. It’s important that both the person who was arrested and the cosigner of the bond understand the bail bond process before proceeding. Being prepared with the information you need will give both of you some peace of mind.
How Bail Works in Michigan
People who have been arrested usually can be released from jail until their court dates. However, the court has to trust that they will return for those hearings, so bail serves as an agreement that they will return. If not, there will be consequences according to the parameters of the bail agreement.
A bail bond is a financial agreement through a bail bond agency that can be made in case the arrestee or a friend or family member cannot afford bail.
If the defendant returns to court after being released, the cosigners can get their money back. Bail bond agencies charge a non-refundable fee for their services.
If the defendant does not return to court, a warrant will be issued for his or her arrest, and the person who obtained the bail bond will not get his or her money back.
What to Do if Someone has been Arrested in Southfield
If you have been asked to help someone who has been arrested in Southfield, the first thing you should do is obtain some basic information, such as:
- The person’s full name, just in case you don’t already know it.
- Where the person is being held.
- The city where the alleged crime occurred.
- The name of the arresting officer.
- The amount of the bail; bail amounts for common crimes are often predetermined in order to avoid wasting taxpayers’ dollars by speeding up the bail bond process.
If you don’t know some of these facts, a bail bond agent who has experience working in Southfield should be able to obtain those answers for you. Having these details before contacting a bail bond agency will simplify the process, however.
Following are some of the relevant locations in Southfield in relation to the arrest and court process:
- The Southfield Police Department is located at 26000 Evergreen Road. The non-emergency phone number is 248-796-5500. If someone has only recently been arrested in Southfield and is still being booked, he or she is likely to be here.
- The city of Southfield is represented by the 46th District Court, located at the same address.
- Southfield is a part of the Sixth Circuit Court, also known as the Oakland County Circuit Court. It is located at 1200 Telegraph Road in Pontiac.
- The Oakland County Jail address is 1201 N. Telegraph. For jail and inmate information, call 248-858-1800.
To learn more about obtaining a bond through Detroit Bail Bonds, call us at 313-244-0669 or email us at info@detroitbailbonds.com.