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After a domestic violence arrest, the court process can involve bonds and future court dates. In this article, we’ll uncover…
After you are arrested and processed at the police station, you are generally entitled to bond. In some cases, a bail commissioner may be contacted to determine an appropriate bond amount. In other situations, a police supervisor familiar with these cases may initially set the bond.
If the arrest occurs late at night or early in the morning, you may remain in custody until the court opens. As a general rule, if someone is arrested late Monday evening (when many of these incidents occur), they will usually appear in court Tuesday morning for arraignment. At that point, the judge determines the bond.
Before the hearing, a bail commissioner will typically interview you while you are in custody. The commissioner gathers background information and then makes a recommendation to the judge. The judge listens to that recommendation and decides what bond, if any, should be set. Several factors can influence this decision.
If you have a criminal history or have been through the system before, the court may set a bond requiring either cash or a surety bond. That might be in the range of $5,000 or $10,000, and in cases involving physical violence, it could be $25,000 or more. On the other hand, if this is your first arrest and there was no physical violence, the court may release you on a promise to appear.
In addition, many domestic violence cases are referred to the Family Violence Intervention Unit, which is part of family services. That team evaluates the case to determine whether they can assist through intervention programs. In some cases, they may decide not to take the matter and return it to the prosecutor for traditional prosecution.
Many domestic violence cases in Connecticut involve bail bonds. Attorney Steven Tomeo has helped clients just like you understand how to go about posting bonds after a domestic violence arrest. As the founder of Steven A. Tomeo & Associates, LLC, he brings decades of experience helping clients protect their freedom and rights at every step of the legal process.
If you’re facing a domestic violence charge and are unsure of your rights and options, reach out to Steven A. Tomeo & Associates, LLC today.
Bond can be confusing for people who have never dealt with the criminal justice system.
The basic idea behind bond is that the Constitution provides that people are generally entitled to bond while awaiting trial. The purpose of bond is not supposed to be punishment. Instead, the goal is to ensure that the accused person returns to court for future court dates. However, courts must also consider whether you might attempt to flee the jurisdiction.
If you face serious charges and have financial resources, the court may be concerned that you could leave the state (or even the country) to avoid prosecution. In those situations, judges may set a higher bond in hopes that you will remain and face the charges rather than risk losing the bond money.
For example, if a wealthy individual commits a particularly violent act and the victim is seriously injured, the court may set a bond as high as $150,000.
If you cannot pay the bond amount, you may turn to a bail bondsman. The bondsman posts the full bond amount with the court and charges you a fee for doing so.
There are typically two ways you can secure release after bond is set:
In Connecticut, you can often post 7% of the bond amount with the court. For example, a $5,000 bond requires $350 to be posted. If you appear for all required court dates and the case is eventually resolved, that money is returned.
If you do not have enough money to post the bond directly, you may use a bail bondsman. The bondsman posts the full bond amount and charges a premium, usually about 10% of the bond amount. For example, if the bond is $5,000, the bondsman might charge around $500. That fee is not returned once the case is finished—it is simply the cost of using the bondsman’s services.
Ultimately, the judge decides whether to release you on a promise to appear, set a specific bond amount, or impose additional requirements before you are released.
For more information on posting bond after a domestic violence arrest in Connecticut, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (860) 963-7441 today.
Many domestic violence cases in Connecticut involve bail bonds. Attorney Steven Tomeo has helped clients just like you understand how to go about posting bonds after a domestic violence arrest. As the founder of Steven A. Tomeo & Associates, LLC, he brings decades of experience helping clients protect their freedom and rights at every step of the legal process.
If you’re facing a domestic violence charge and are unsure of your rights and options, reach out to Steven A. Tomeo & Associates, LLC today.
