What is Bail Bond Collateral?

     Bail Bond collateral is some sort of tangible property (cars, house, jewelry, artwork, cash) that you use to secure a bail bond.  Collateral takes the place of money.  When you need to bail someone out of jail, you may not have the cash available to post the bond yourself.  A bail bondsman, however, is willing to accept property in lieu of cash and charges you a 10% fee for doing the bond.  The fee is non-refundable, however, the collateral is fully returned to you as long as the defendant goes to every one of his hearings until the case has been adjudicated (completed).

For example: Your brother George has been given a $2,500 bond.  You don’t have $2,500 in cash to give the court, but you do have a 2005 Dodge 4×4 that is worth at least that, however, you don’t want to sell your truck.  A Phoenix bail bonds company would place a lien on your title and charge you a $250 fee.  When the case is over you get your title back.  You haven’t had to sell your truck, and you are only out of pocket $250.  You have maximized your leverage.

What can be used as collateral?

     Any asset that the bondsman is willing to accept may be used as collateral.  Typically, cars truck, buses, motor homes, mobile homes, horse trailers, jewelry, artwork by well known artists, electronics, tools, real estate, land, houses, gold, silver, antiques, etc.  Be aware, most bondsmen are going to value your assets conservatively; this means wholesale valuation methods will be applied to your assets. Remember, the idea of collateral is to cover the loss of the bond.  Collateral would be sold quickly to cover loss.  Used car lots, pawn shops, and junk dealers are favorite receivers of much of the property.  Do not get your feeling hurt if  the the bondsman does not value your property as high as you do.  This is business, not charity.

Can I lose my collateral?

     When a default in the bond has occurred and the Court has ordered the bond Forfeited, a judgement is isuued and the bail bond company is required to remit to the Court the entire forfeited amount.  The bail bond company will require you to do one of the following: pay the forfeited amount in cash; if the debt is paid in full, the bail bond company should return your collateral immediately.  If you can’t pay the full forfeited amount, the bail bond company will be forced to sell your property.  If the bondsman sells your collateral and has not received the required amount to cover his loss, you will be personally liable for the deficit.  Any cash received in excess of the amount necessary to cover his loss will be returned to you.

 For more information on collateral or the bail bond process, please call us at (602) 258-4488 

Maricopa County Jail Inmate Information    

     We get dozens of calls everyday from people who are in need of bail bond information.  The caller is usually stressed out and highly agitated because they can’t get the information they need.  In most cases the caller just wants to “know” what is going on and has little to no desire of posting bail.  For these “clients” I offer the following self-help guide. 

Guide to the Maricopa County Jail Hotline

     The Maricopa County Jail has an automated information Hotline.  In order to use this system effectively, you will need to speak clearly.  Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his staff have spent a lot of time developing an answering system designed to provide you with the following types of information:

Specific Inmate:

• You will need to know the inmate’s Booking Number or his Full Name and Date of Birth. 

(If you do not know this basic information you will not be able to use this system.  Bondsmen will need this information as well.  Bondsmen do not have access to a general database, nor do bondsmen have the ability to talk to jail staff.  You must have basic information.)

The following information is available for specific inmates

• Housing

• Visitation

• Specific Charges  

General Information:

• Payment of Bonds

• Visitation

• Court Information

• Inmate Funds

• Pick-up Property

 Victim Notification:

• You will be transfered to a live operator

 Self Surrender:

Bond/Fines Hours of Operation

     The Maricopa County Jail has limited hours for accepting the posting of bail or conducting other inmate activities.  The jail no longer accepts bonds 24-hours per day.  In general, the jail will not take bail between the following hours:

• 1:00 AM to 7:00 AM
• 2:15 PM to 2:45 PM and
• 10:15 PM to 10:45 PM

     If you are still in line when the clock chimes, the window will close and you will have to wait for it to reopen per the above schedule.

Where is Bail Posted?

     Bail bonds can be posted at the 4th Ave Jail (Madison Street entrance).  There are three windows where one may conduct business.

Window #1

• Open to General Public
• Accepts Cash (from Bondsmen only)
• Accepts Cashiers Checks
• Accepts Money Orders
• Answers general questions

Hours of Operation:

• 7:00 AM to 1:30 PM

1:30 PM to 2:45 PM (Closed 1 hour 15 minutes)

• 2:45 PM to 9:00 PM

9:00 PM to 10:45 PM  (Closed 1 hour 15 minutes)

• 10:45 to 1:00 AM

Window #2

• Serves Law Enforcement, Attorneys, and Bondsmen (Surety Bonds Only)
• Answers general questions

Hours of Operation

     Window #2 is only open when staffing permits.  The following times are the conditional hours of operation

• 7:00 AM to 2:15 PM

2:15 PM to 2:45 PM (Closed 30 minutes)

• 2:45 PM to 10:15 PM

Window #3

     Weekend operation

• Serves everyone
• Accepts Fines for Phoenix City Court (Weekends Only) 

Posting Cash Bail Bonds

     Everyone wants to save money.  When it comes to spending money to bail someone out of jail, most people hate doing it as much as they hate going to the dentist.  Everyday we get calls from people wanting just information on how they can post their own bond without using the services of a bondsman.  People expect us to provide them with detailed step by step procedures on how they can post a bond without paying us for the service.  So, for those of you that want to take matters into your own hands, here you go:

• Call the Maricopa County Jail Hot Line at (602) 876-0322 and choose “Inmate Information” from the automated choices.  You must know how to spell the inmates full name and their date of birth.  Write down the Booking Number once the system locates the Inmate.
• Obtain a Postal Money Order, Western Union Money Order, or Cashier’s Check made out to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for the exact amount of the bond.
• Go to the Fourth Ave Jail.
• Take a number at the bond out window.
• Fill out a Request Form located at the bond out window
• And, when it’s your turn, give the bond clerk your Money Order, Request Form and Drivers License.

That’s it!  Not too bad eh?

Not so fast

There is a bunch of things that can happen to delay or prevent you from quickly accomplishing your money saving task.

• If the bond amount was incorrectly reported, or you didn’t understand that there were several cases from different Courts and you didn’t obtain separate money orders for each case, you will not be able to post your bond and you will need to start over and get new money orders.
• If the case was out of Phoenix Court you can only post it at the jail on Weekends or at the Phoenix Courthouse.
• If you obtained a Cashier’s Check and the bank closes before you post the bond, the jail will not accept the Cashier’s Check without validating its authenticity.
• If you show up at the 4th Ave Jail at the wrong time, the window may be closed.  The Maricopa County Jail does not take bonds 24 hours per day!
• If you have a warrant for your arrest, whether you know it or not, and you hand the clerk your identification, expect to go to jail.
• If you are an illegal alien, or have been incarcerated in the Maricopa County Jail in the last year, or named as the victim in the Defendant’s domestic violence case you will NOT be able to post your bond.

     These are some of the aggravating circumstances that can happen to anyone posting bail at the jail.  Do I recommend posting your own bond?  Rarely ever!  Posting bail is only part of the fun, try getting your money back after the case is over.  A professional bondman will fight to get your money back promptly.  My advice is hire a professional bondsman.  Use a Phoenix bondsman that has been operating for a few years and one who posts bonds full time.

Maricopa County Bail Bonds is dedicated to posting your bond professionally:

• We have been posting Phoenix Bail Bonds since 2005.
• 70% of the bonds we post are cash bonds.
• Cash or collateral is refunded within 24 hours of receipt of exoneration from court.

When Not to post bail

     When someone bails you out of the Maricopa County Jail, it is one of the biggest favors they could possibly do for you. Yet, many of the people that get released each year don’t see it that way.  Many people we bail out get in trouble again while out on bond and end right back in jail.  Others skip out on bail causing family and friends to lose money or the collateral they put up.  Use your head when posting Phoenix bail bonds, not your heart.

• Never bail someone out of jail that you have doubts will show up to their hearings.
• Don’t bail someone out of jail that can’t drive themselves to court, unless you plan on driving them to court yourself.
• Never bail someone out of jail that is always late, unless you plan on babysitting them.
• Never post bail with money that is meant to pay your bills.
• Don’t post bail on an addict or alcoholic unless they agree to go to rehab; they will let you down every time.
• Don’t bail someone out of jail that talks about postponing hearings and expects the courts to work around his/her schedule.
• Never bail someone out of jail in an attempt to win their affection (listen up women).
• Never bail someone out of jail that says they will never go to prison.
• Never bail someone out of jail that is suicidal or wishes they were dead.

     These are some of the tell-tale signs of when not to post a bail bond.  Everyday I listen to wives, moms, and girlfriends who are motivated by the ORDERS they receive from someone behind bars.  Many inmates will demand their friends and family put up everything they own to bail them out of jail.

Two over-riding precepts govern inmates in jail:

Rule #1
Most people in jail have virtually nothing; neither cash or collateral to help themselves bail out.

Rule #2
Most people in jail know EXACTLY what everyone else has and EXPECTS everyone to use it on them.

Posting Phoenix Bail Bonds

     I rarely tell anyone to post their bond without the aid of a bondsman; there is too much that can go wrong.  Without an experienced bondsman to handle your transaction, you can literally lose your entire bond amount.  Let’s look at some of the arguments for using a bondsman:

1. The bondsman does all the work of posting the bond.  He fights his way through Phoenix traffic and enters a rather scary, smelly bond out room.  People are lined up at the window to post bail bonds, ask questions, get property releases and do visitation.  Many people have been waiting hours for service,  they are tense, nervous and angry.  A bail bondsman gets preferential service; he gets waited on before the general public and he can post your bond much faster than you.

2. If the Defendant tries to run or fails to show for a hearing, the bondsman can re-arrest him.  The Phoenix bail bondsman has full custody of the defendant.  The bondsman has investigators and bounty hunters trained to track and find the defendant for you.  If you post the bond yourself, you have no authority to arrest; you can only watch your money running down the street.

3. When the case is over, will you know how to get your money back?  Most of the calls I get from people who have posted their own bond, tell me they don’t know who has their money.  Some people have friends post the bond for them.  Legally, the court is required to return the bond to who ever posted it – your friend.  How will you know if he got it?  How will you know if he will return it to you? If you use a bondsman, the buck stops there.

There are some instances where posting your own bond is a better than hiring a bondsman to do it.

When to Post your own Bail Bond

1. When the bond is for fines, post it yourself.  If the bond will be forfeited for fines there is no need to hire a bondsman accept for the shear convenience of use (see #1 above).  If your bond will be forfeited for fines, you won’t have to worry about getting your money back, nor will it matter if the defendant doesn’t show for his hearing.  Your money is gone as soon as you give it to the bail bond clerk.

2. When the bond is small, post it yourself.  Phoenix Bail bond fees are going to run about $150.00 on any small bond.  If your bond is $300.00, you would spend $150.00 to buy the bond and you would still need collateral worth $300.00.  Certainly, at some dollar amount it becomes silly to hire a bondsman.

Nevertheless, I have posted a $25.00 bond before.  The person lived in Florida and had no other way to get it done.  They were forced to use a credit card.

We all want to save money, but when it comes to the law and your lack of experience in a matter, it is cheaper to hire a professional.

We, at Maricopa County Bail Bonds, have recently made an impressive move towards a revamped online presence for our Bail Bond customers in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. We understand the value of having a more informative and navigable online presence for our customers. We are also on the verge of engaging our company within the various social communities to help our customers communicate with us much easier.

Our plans include the following but are not limited to:

• A new website (which you can see already).
• A new company blog (which you are reading now).
• A new Facebook Fan Page.
• A new Twitter Profile.
• A new Google+ Places Page
• A new YouTube Channel
• Informational contributions to various online resource websites

Our goal is to make ourselves more available to our current and potential customers, while also contributing to the Bail Bonds industries as a whole. Our vast experience gives us a unique opportunity over our competitors to deliver educational information to those in need of or researching the history of bail bonds and the bail bond process in general. We aim to deliver as much of a quality experience online, as we do over the phone and in person. Customer service has always been and always will be a priority within our Bail Bond Agency and we will always strive to improve the methods we use to service our customers and execute expeditious bail bonds in Phoenix and the entire Maricopa County.