How Bail Bonds Work in Connecticut: An Indemnitors Guide
How bail bonds work in Connecticut trusts that residents will need to understand if they need help in making bail. The bail system in this state mirrors that of most others in the US as it is governed by similar rules and regulations. Connecticut bail bond agents all operate under the same principles, but there are subtle differences in terms of outside services such as lending arrangements that might be made.
Connecticut law mandates that fees of a commercial bail bond will be $50 for a bond $500 and less. From $500 to $5000 bond costs jump to 10%. If the bond is over $5000 the defendant is charged 7% of the remaining bond amount. For Example: a $5,000 bail bond cost at 10% would be $500. If the bond were $6,000 the bail would be $570. ($5000 x 10% = $500) + ($1000 x 7% = $70). Simply put, any bond over $5,000 is an additional 7%. See table below.
The Bail Bonds System in Connecticut
When a person is arrested in Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven or other city for a crime, they are taken to jail (local or county jail). Here they undergo a booking procedure. This process generally takes from one to two hours or more depending on the circumstances of the arrest. The defendant will be finger printed and have their mug shot taken. However, at the end of the process the defendant is then taken before a judge who will issue a date for their trial and the bail amount for their temporary release.
Under certain circumstances, it is possible that the judge will simple release the defendant under their own recognizance which means that no bail is required. However for most people they will be faced with three options;
- Wait in jail until the trial which may take weeks or months
- Pay the full amount of the bail in cash to the court. New law in January 2020!
- Hire the services of a Connecticut bail bond agent
It should not be surprising that most people choose the services of a bail bonds agent as they will have to pay lees in order to get out of jail until their court date appearance. If the defendant does not appear in court, then the bail bonds agent has to take full responsibility and must pay the bail. At this point, the bail bonds agent will usually hire a bounty hunter to find and bring the defendant to court which at that point the bail money will be released back to the agent.
CT Bail Bonds Charges & Fees
In Connecticut, the bail bonds agents may charge up to 10% for bail bonds up to $5,000 and 7% for bonds above $5,000 which is slightly different than most state, but not by much. The 10% is a fee that is not refundable. If the defendant does not have the money available, many of the bail bond agencies will have lending programs that often require collateral such as property or vehicles that can be used to secure the money.
| BOND AMOUNT | PERCENTAGE | PREMIUM COSTS |
|---|---|---|
| $1 – $499 | 0% | $50 Flat Fee |
| $500 – $5,000 | 10% | Max Premium $500 |
| $5,001 – $10,000 | 7% | Max Premium $700 |
| $10,001 – $1,000,000 | 7% | Max Premium $70,000 |
Connecticut has a new law put in place January 1, 2020 and circumvents using commercial bail. This new law offers the defendant to pay the state 10% of a bond up to $20,000. There are issues with this as most people don’t have cash (the state requires cash only), and don’t offer a loan program like bondsman do. Getting someone to pay as little as $50.00 for bond amounts up to $500 (these bonds are rarely written as they take up too much of a bondsman’s time to write, and then to manage the defendant). Then 10% of the bond’s face value for bond amounts from $500 to $5,000; and 7% of the bond’s face value in excess of $5,000.
Each bail bonds agency has their own financial rules and regulations that you will need to go over first. All other charges and fees center on the lending system that the bail bond agency puts into place which is not as regulated by the state as much as the bail itself. However, most financial charges are generally minimal apart from the interest rate and in some cases collateral may not be needed for bail.
Video: How Does Bail Work in Connecticut
Connecticut Bail Bonds Information Every Cosignor Should Know
How does bail bonds work in Connecticut? In Connecticut, the defendant’s bail amount is set by the police, bail staff or judge using weighted release criteria. The bail bondsman will charge the defendant a premium of up to 10% as directed by the state. The State of CT regulates the standard rates of bail bonds. It’s up to the cosignor or defendant on how fast they want to get out of jail in an emergency.
In the end, understanding how bail bonds work in Connecticut; residents will be most helped in finding the right agent for their needs. The regulating agency for bail bonds Connecticut agents is the Connecticut Insurance Department where you can visit their website and find out more information.