An arrest for domestic violence is a serious situation, in which one or both parties can face serious fines and potential jail time. In Utah, domestic violence is defined as: “a crime in which a person commits domestic violence by committing (or attempting to commit) a crime including violence, physical harm, or the threat of violence or harm against a cohabitant.” It is important to work with a professional attorney when you are dealing with a domestic violence case as there are several legal requirements you need to be aware of as you or a loved one deal with this stressful time. Any arrest for domestic violence normally means you will end up with a Class C or A misdemeanor or a felony and case face serious jail time and penalties.
Domestic violence normally means you will be facing a felony. When it is characterized as a felony, you can be arrested without a warrant. Once arrested, you will be held and need to make bail through cash or a bond and then you can be released. However, the court has the ability to set the bail quite high, which means some people cannot afford to get out of jail once arrested. Others will rely on bail bondsman to help get out of jail as they will need to pay a fee and the bail bond agency will front the rest of the cost. Of course, there are certain parameters that need to be met in order to obtain a bail bond. Since the fines can be expensive, you need to find a bail bond agency you can trust and work closely with to take care of you.
Federal and State Charges
Many people do not realize there is a difference between state and federal charges, and what you actually need to pay the bail bondsman. AAA Bail Bonds has been in business since 1962. We have handled thousands of domestic violence cases, and we have the expertise you need to make sure you aren’t being treated unfairly or unjustly. We want you to know how serious these charges are, and can refer you to some local attorneys to help if you are not sure where to begin when it comes to charges of this serious nature.
Federal charges will normally ask for a higher skill set from the attorney and the prosecution, so its common to see higher premiums and fees for Federal charges. State bonds are normally set at an average of 10% fee. The individual securing the bail bond will need to pay a fee that secure the bond, and the initial deposit fee is not returned. Collateral is often used to secure the bond since domestic violence bonds are normally quite expensive. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail bond agency will need to track down this person and return them to court. It’s extremely important to make sure the person you are posting bail for will adhere to the agreement and go to court on the correct date and time, or you can lose the collateral used to secure the bond.
Setting the Bail
An arraignment is held before a judge or magistrate to set the bail amount, and a protective order is normally issued to help protect the victim of domestic violence. A protective order can be detailed and will contain sensitive information, so it is important to know you are working with experts you can trust. At AAA Bail Bonds, we are here to help you walk through this next chapter in your story. No matter what your situation is, our expert team has worked with similar cases and we have the knowledge, experience, resources, and insight you need to guide you on this journey. Contact our Ogden bail bonds office today to discuss your case.
