Ben Hilton Bail Bonding is a General Bail Bond Agency comprised of highly
professional agents with vast, and widely diverse backgrounds in law enforcment, security, investigations, criminal justice
and many other related fields. Ben Hilton Bail Bonding is one of the largest and MOST professional organizations in the state.
The company offers free bail bond information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and allows discounts on secured
bonds. Contact us to get the help you need, and rest at ease knowing your case will be handled confidentially, professionally
and ethically.
Agents are on 24 hour standby in almost every county in the State of Missouri and all agents are State Licesned,
in good standing with regulatory entities, and are highly trainned.
Bail Bond Overview
A Bail Bond is an instrument executed to the courts by a Licensed
Bail Agent. By providing the court with a Power of Attorney for the full dollar amount of the bond, the bail agent is promising
to the Sheriff and the court, the arrested person will show up for all court hearings and fulfill all court orders while out
on bail. The bail agent as authorized by law charges a fee usually 10%-20% of the total bond amount.
Generally bail is allowed according to the Supreme Court, except
in cases of capital crimes. Judges determine whether bail should be allowed and determine the amounts based on many factors including past criminal history, current and open cases, history
of failing to appear in court, (FTA), present job status and many other factors.
Professional bail agents similarly, determine if the defendant qualifies for
bonding using many of the same parameters as the judges do in determining the bond.
When the Power of Attorney and other documents are completed
and properly filed, the defendant is released to the custody of the bail agent until the case(s) are disposed by the courts.
Under the custody of the bail agent, the defendant must comply with all conditions of bond as set by the court and the bail
agent.
As long as the defendant complies with ALL bond and court conditions
and appears at ALL court hearings while out on bail, there are no problems. If the defendant fails to abide by the conditions
set, or FTAs, then he/she may be re-arrested by the bail agent or law enforcement and returned to the custody of the Sheriff.
In these cases, if bond is reset, it is usually doubled. In some cases the judge may issue a Capius Warrant and the defendant
will be held in jail until he/she appears before the judge.
What If I’m Arrested?
- Comply and cooperate with Law Enforcement
- Contact your attorney
- Remain calm
- Keep important phone numbers with you
- At least have a mental plan established in the event you are arrested
- Know how to contact key people who might assist you in bonding out
- Always carry a photo ID
How Do I Arrange Bail?
Once arrested the jail should provide you with an unbiased list
of Licensed Professional Bail Agents. Be very leery of anyone from the jail staff or within the Sheriff’s Department
recommending any bail agent. It’s against the law and there may be more than meets the eye if this happens.
Be honest and up front with your bail agent. Do not admit guilt
or innocence over the phone, and do not discuss your case. Your bail agent will ask you several questions, for example:
- Your charges
- Bond amount
- Do you have job?
- Who are your cosigners what are their phone numbers?
- Have you ever Failed To Appear?
- Where do you live, and how long?
- Can you meet the bond premium requirements?
- Can you offer collateral to secure the bond?
- Your past criminal history
- Past bonding companies you have used
- Where you were born