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AR15.COM
9/17/2007 9:54:02 PM EDT
If someone is falsely arrested, and makes bail to avoid jail time, does he get his money back if he is exhonorated?

If not, then please give it your best shot at explaining how that isn't state sponsored extortion.

9/17/2007 9:57:25 PM EDT
[#1]
Around here even if you're found guilty, you get most of the money back. A portion is always kept to cover court costs.
9/17/2007 10:00:39 PM EDT
[#2]
I can see how if you are found guilty, you shouldn't get a dime back, but I'd hope that an innocent person wouldn't get screwed out of his money (more than likely borrowed from family etc.) all over a misunderstanding.

That's good to know.
9/17/2007 10:11:03 PM EDT
[#3]
Its not about uilt or innocence... its just a bond to ensure you turn up at court for trial. If you turn up, you get your $$$ back, regardless of the eventual outcome of the actual trial.
9/17/2007 10:15:29 PM EDT
[#4]
SB has it right.

Who wants to be a Bounty Hunter?
9/17/2007 10:17:41 PM EDT
[#5]

Quoted:
Its not about uilt or innocence... its just a bond to ensure you turn up at court for trial. If you turn up, you get your $$$ back, regardless of the eventual outcome of the actual trial.


Got it. As you can see, I've never been in any serious trouble...yet...

I started thinking about it today because my sister-in-law got stopped for "failing to yeild."

She didn't get arrested but still has to pay the court costs to prove her innocence before a judge. That just seems like a bogus deal to me. Don't we pay enough in taxes to cover court costs, for God's sake?!?!

Oh well...stepping off...
9/18/2007 8:20:22 AM EDT
[#6]
Paying court costs if you are innocent??

None of that around here.......
9/18/2007 10:53:40 AM EDT
[#7]

Quoted:
Paying court costs if you are innocent??

None of that around here.......


This is somewhat common in Traffic cases, where they REALLY don't want to waste time having a trial.  They make you come up with money up front, and in MOST places you get it all back IF you are found Not Guilty.  This incentivizes people to play along, pay their fine, and not clog up the system demanding their day in Court.

Other places in the US, they keep the Court Costs no matter what.  This is particularly true where they make you pay to have the Court hold a full hearing on a Traffic case, or for an Appeal hearing on a Traffic case.


FluxPrism
9/18/2007 12:10:18 PM EDT
[#8]
If you post the entire bond (or prpoerty or other things aceptable to the court it is returned if you show up.

If you have to hire a bail bondsman, the typical fee is 10% of the bond and the bondsman posts the rest (though it may only be a promissry note).
The bondsman keeps the 10% no matter what.
9/22/2007 10:06:59 PM EDT
[#9]

Quoted:
Paying court costs if you are innocent??

None of that around here.......


It can happen under a peace bond or accord and satisfaction here in VA.  It's sort of a civil remedy in lieu of a criminal conviction.