• A bail bondsman provides the money needed to release a criminal defendant from jail.handcuffs one image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
  
  A bail bondsman, also referred to as a bail bond agent, is essentially the person or a member of an organization that arranges the criminal defendant's bail in court. A bail bondsman will provide monetary compensation in the form of a bond, to a court on behalf of the arrested person. This bond guarantees that the defendant will return to court when required.
  
  

Payment

• The primary duty of a bail bondsman is to guarantee the full payment of the criminal defendant's bond to the court given the fact that the defendant may fail to show up for trials or other court appearances. Since the bail bondsman may lose a large sum of money should the defendant be a no-show in court, the agent will require the family of the defendant to pay 10 percent of the total cost of the bail, including signing over a lien on their personal belongings. Aside from the 10 percent premium, there is also a fee charged for issuing the bond, which varies depending on the amount and the bonding company.
  
  

Background Check

• The bail bondsman must also verify the criminal background of the defendant to determine whether he poses a risk of being absent for court dates. Many bail bond companies impose strict regulations and all have the right to refuse its financial services to defendants deemed too risky. The bail bondsman can also request the family of the defendant to sign over a lien to their personal properties should the defendant miss any court dates. Items that usually qualify to secure a bond include land, houses, jewelry and vehicles.
  
  

Paperwork

• The bail bondsman is also responsible for completing paperwork required for the bail bond and will maintain copies of records in the office. It is crucial that the paperwork be complete and accurate because copies of such records will be submitted to the court. The bail bondsman must work expediently in order to prevent the defendant from going to jail. It might take a few hours before the criminal defendant is released on bond due to all the paperwork that must be completed and submitted. When the judge releases the defendant, he will be free to go. However, the defendant must return to court as specificed by the judge.
  
  

Bounty Hunting

• If the defendant does not return to court, the bail bondsman must work actively to help locate the fugitive. The main goal must be to assist in bringing back the fugitive to court so that the appropriate fees may be collected.