Is It Ever A Good Idea To Cancel A Bail Bond?
Posted on: 8 May 2018
Cosigning a bail bond is something many friends and family members do for those who end up needing to get out of jail. However, the process isn't a frivolous one; whoever cosigns is taking responsibility for the defendant to show up in court when ordered. But sometimes a co-signer can have second thoughts based on how the defendant is talking and behaving while waiting for a court date. In those cases, the idea of canceling the bail bond may be tempting.
You Could Be on the Hook
If you've cosigned for a bail bond and want to cancel it, that could be the right move because if the defendant doesn't show up to court, you have to pay what could be a huge amount of bail. If you think you have enough proof that the defendant is planning to skip out, contact the bail bond company to discuss your concerns and possibly revoke bond.
How Likely Are Your Concerns?
But if you're not so sure -- maybe the situation looks bad, but the defendant has never avoided consequences before and doesn't really look like they're going to start now -- revoking might not be such a good idea. It could interrupt the defendant's job and home life in ways that are more severe than you might realize.
You need to look at why you are having second thoughts. Have other people been telling you about all the bad things that could happen if the defendant were to skip out? In that case, if the defendant looks like they'll show up to court, don't cancel the bond. And try to stay away from those people who want to convince you that you're going to be in trouble.
What Happens Later?
One other consideration is what happens when the case is over. If you revoke bond and the defendant has to wait in jail, what will your relationship be like once the defendant comes home, either after the court places them on probation or acquits them, or after their prison sentence is over?
If the defendant had shown no sign of planning to flee and you revoked anyway, that could strain the relationship between you two. You'll have to be very confident in your decision to revoke in that case.
Still, if you think the defendant may be planning to take off, you should consider canceling your co-signature on that bond. There is no harm in discussing the situation with the bail bond company so give them a call. However, don't revoke until you are sure it's the right move to make. Click here to continue reading more.
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