In North Carolina, many criminal charges result in the defendant being taken to jail by the police. The judge or magistrate will set your conditions of release, which includes bail amount, court orders, and your next appearance date. For some offenses, these conditions will be set soon after arrival at the jail and you can bond out shortly after.
However, if you are accused of a violent crime or have other pending charges, you may have to appear in court before bail is set. This can take up to 48 hours.
What happens if you don’t bond out of jail? You’ll sit there until trial. Most cases take months, even years, to resolve. There’s no need to stay in jail until your case is over!
Your first step upon arrival at the jail is to call us. We are open 24/7/365. We need to know what your charges are and what the magistrate or judge set for your bail amount. We also need a phone number for a family member who can help you out by cosigning and paying us.
Speaking of your charges – do not tell everyone your story. What happened to land you here is for your lawyer’s ears only. We need to know you were charged with “felony larceny,” not “Billy Bob said that tractor was his but it was actually Sally’s and Sally is mad at me because I stole eggs from her hen house last week.” You’re on a recorded line with jailers listening – and everything you say can and will be used against you in court.
The second step depends on your family and your unique situation. We usually meet family members at the jail to sign paperwork and collect the bond premium (the amount you pay to get out of jail, no more than 15%) and collateral, if required. We can sometimes do this long distance. We can also sometimes work out a payment plan that fits your budget. Once your family does their part, we turn in the paperwork to the jail and you get released. At some jails, that’s a very fast process – at others, it simply takes longer. Your release may also be delayed if you need an ankle monitor or have other pretrial requirements.
Your third step is the easiest – go home! Once you’re home, you’ll need to do weekly check-ins (easy – it’s done via an app) and go to all of your court dates. We do recommend that you get an attorney, even if it’s court-appointed. It’ll make the process go more smoothly. Let us know if you run into a snag getting to court, too – we can sometimes help people out.
Here at Beacon Bail Bonding, we partner with families, friends, and employers to assist people who have been accused of a crime. We can write bonds of any amount, so whether it’s $100 or $1,000,000 or more – we’ve got you covered.
We’re trusted by clients, jails, and judges because we keep integrity and dignity at the heart of all that we do. We’ll never take advantage of anyone nor anyone’s situation. We do not judge or discriminate based on charges and aren’t concerned about guilt or innocence. What we’re concerned about is your Constitutional right to bail and freedom, the presumption of innocence until one is proven guilty, and getting people home to their family, job, and life.
So whether it’s a DUI in New Hanover County, an assault in Columbus County, a larceny charge in Cleveland County, or anything anywhere else – Beacon Bail Bonding is ready to serve you and your family.
If you’re from here but get in trouble elsewhere, we have an extensive network of agents across the country, ready to help.
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