How do I post bond in Colorado?
After a bail amount is set, it can always be posted with cash. In the majority of cases, the jail will also accept a surety bond. In some cases, it can also be posted through a property bond, though obtaining a property bond is a complicated process that usually has to be undertaken through the court.
“Bail” and “Bond,” for the purposes here, mean the same thing.
“Cash Bail” means that you must bring the entire bail amount, plus any applicable jail fees, directly to the jail where the person is incarcerated. For example, if the bail amount is set at $1,000, then you must bring $1000 cash plus the “jail fee,” which runs, on the average, between $10 and $50. Some jails will also accept money orders or credit cards. If the defendant appears for all his scheduled court appearances, the cash bail is usually returned in full, but the jail fees are a permanent expense.
“Surety Bond” is more commonly known as using a “bail bond agent,” or “professional surety.” The bail agent, also known as “the bondsman,” guarantees that the defendant will appear to each and every court appearance until the case is complete and the bond is exonerated, released, or discharged. For this service, the bail agent charges you a fee or “premium.” This fee is normally non-refundable. That is how bail bond businesses make their money. As a general rule, the premium is a percentage of the bail bond amount. In addition, the bail agent may collect the bonding and booking fees charged by the jail.
A “Property Bond” is posted directly with the court. It is most often used in cases involving particularly serious charges or when the defendant is considered to be a higher “flight risk,” and where the bail is set at a high amount. The court records a lien on the property to secure the entire bail amount. If the defendant fails to appear, the court has the right to foreclose on the property to recover the forfeited bail amount. As a general rule, you must have equity of no less than 150% of the bail amount. As an example, if a bond is $50,000.00, then you must have at least $75,000.00 in equity. Various other requirements may apply in any particular case. These types of bond are rare in DUI cases.
In order to determine whether the booking process has been completed and whether a bail amount has been set and, if so, the amount and kind required, you can contact the detention facility in person, by phone, or in many cases, by searching the current prison roster (by name or booking date) provided on the website for the facility (together with other information, such as fees.)