History of Bail Bonds

You could say bail bonds are a tradition of sorts, borrowed from the English like a lot of our traditions, rules, and regulations. However, the idea of someone else vouching for someone when they broke the law dates way back to ancient Mesopotamia.

ASAP Bail Bonds offers those who have been arrested for a crime in Gwinnett County bail bonds. A bail bond is where you or a loved one pays a certain percentage of your bail money (usually around 10 percent) to the bail bondsman who then keeps this money as their fee. The bail bondsman then posts the entire amount of the bail for you, so you can get out of jail while you await trial. We offer 24 hour bail bond service to help. Call us today to get started!

MIDDLE AGES ENGLAND

It seems people’s word meant more 1500 years ago. As mentioned before, the idea of finding someone to vouch for you to help you out when you got into trouble has been around since ancient times. This was taken one step further in Anglo-Saxon England (500 AD) when the person who was vouching for you had to have the money to pay restitution to the person you committed a crime against while you awaited trial. No money was actually exchanged; the person just had to have the capability to pay for your crimes if you fled.

Crime was rampant during the Middle Ages. Still operating under the feudal system, many people were poor, worked hard, and had little to eat. Crime mainly stemmed out of the necessity to survive, so either food itself was stolen, deer were poached, or money was stolen from the rich so food could be bought. Funny how today most crime has nothing to do with surviving.

Punishments were much more severe than today, usually torture or death, and with no places like local jails to house criminals awaiting trial, the idea of releasing them was paramount. However, who was released was largely up to the sheriff, who was usually bribed or did what he pleased for no rhyme or reason.

Finally, the English government stepped in and in 1275 passed the Statute of Westminster that listed which crimes the offender could be released for (and bail made). In 1677, English Parliament passed the Habeas Corpus Act, which set terms for bail, and in 1689, declared bail must not be excessive

COLONIAL AMERICA

Since the majority of colonial America was of English descent, many laws, rules, and regulations were adopted from them, one of which was the bail system. In 1789 when the Bill of Rights was adopted, the Sixth Amendment stated that Americans must be informed of the nature of their offense and the Eighth Amendment stated the bail shall not be excessive and that all crimes except those involving the death penalty (known as capital offenses) were bailable. Judges could decide on capital cases if the defendant could bail out or not.

TODAY’S BAIL BOND SERVICES

In 1898, the first commercial bail bonds business was established in San Francisco, operating much like today, to help families pay for their loved one’s bail bond. However, the price of bail continued to rise, leaving many families struggling, even with help from a bail bondsman, to pay for bail. The poor were at a distinct disadvantage, as many were left to sit in jail, unable to work and provide for their families while awaiting trial, for months because their bail was so high. Hence, in 1966 in the Bail Reform Act, the first legislation was passed since colonial times to control the price of bail so people could get out of jail. This was a relief for many.

In 1984, Congress passed a new Bail Reform Act that replaced the one in 1966. This was mainly because of loopholes that mainly came about as a result of the times. Since the tradition of letting anyone out except those charged with capital offenses and weren’t flight risks was firmly instituted, many criminals who should have never been allowed bail, such as repeat offenders, dangerous people, and those charged with serious crimes, were receiving bail and then were fleeing and/or committing more crimes. This bill closed those gaps and allowed those judged to be a danger to the community held without bail. Bail hearings were instituted as well to further protect the public.

BAIL BONDS TODAY

There’s a delicate balance in allowing people to retain their freedom until they are convicted of a crime and protecting the public from these people were they to have their freedom. The Bail Reform Act attempts to strike that balance. Is it perfect? No. Are some people held unfairly? Yes. Are some people bailed out when they shouldn’t have been? Yes. Humans are flawed. This is the case with everything in life. You do the best you can in the moment. That’s all you can do.

ASAP BAIL BONDS IN GWINNETT COUNTY

ASAP Bail Bonds in Gwinnett County firmly believes in helping people accused of crimes have their freedom while they await trial. We help you post bail when you or a family member pays us a premium, or a small percentage of your bail. We then pay the rest of your bail bond while you await trial.

During that time, we’re here for you. We help you throughout the entire bail process, handling all of the paperwork with the courts and answering any questions you may have. You are free to call and ask us for advice any time, 24 hours a day. We’ll stay in touch with you throughout your entire legal ordeal from the beginning of the bail bond process to the end of your trial, helping to explain processes along the way. Our mission is to make your bail bond process as easy as possible, so you can concentrate on your defense. If you think you may have a warrant out for your arrest in the greater metropolitan Atlanta area, give us a call. We offer a free warrant check service.

ASAP Bail Bonds works to get you free as soon as possible in Gwinnett County. Call us today!