In Texas, there are various types of bond available to defendants charged with crimes. Some criminal lawyers in Texas post their clients bond. However, this is not really ethical because it can create a conflict of interest if the client fails to appear or violates bond conditions. Any good criminal attorney in Houston, Texas, can explain to you the various types of bond. You nee to be aware of these bonds so that you can understand the cost and the risk associated with each. Unlike other states, Texas allows private bondsmen to post bonds for defendants. In Kentucky, for example, there are no bondsmen and a defendant has to post the whole bond amount in cash. Likewise, in federal court, there are no bondsmen. Instead, the defendant often guarantees the bond with his or other relatives’ assets, maybe with a small amount down in cash.

Types of bail bond

Surety Bond: This bond is most common in Texas. A surety bond is posted when the accused person cannot afford to pay his or her own bail. The friends, relatives or the third party (a bondsmen) will pay the full amount if the accused does not appear in the court. Bondsmen, such as in Harris County, Texas, usually charge ten percent of the amount of bond.

Cash Bond: The accused pays the full amount of bond to be released. This is most often seen with misdemeanors, where bonds are much lower than with felony cases. The accused, if he fails to appear, surrenders the whole amount of cash to the county. When his case is resolved, and his bond has not been surrendered, he will receive the cash bond back in the mail.

Release on Your Own Recognizance: The judge may choose to release the accused on his own decision. The judge decides these types of decision only when the accused involves in relatively minor, nonviolent crime and if the defendant is not considered a danger to anyone.

Citation Release: Here, accused will not be arrested. Instead a citation will be issued saying that the accused must be present in the court in the particular date and time. This is most often seen in Harris County with traffic offenses.

Cash Bond: Paying the bail amount in the form of full payment in a hot cash type. The purpose of this is to secure his or her return to court on an appointed date, and thereafter until the case is concluded.