Questions about posting bond and bail are common among people who have been accused and charged with a sex crime in Colorado. Posting bond and bail actually means the same thing in the Denver County Jails, Arapahoe County Jails, and county jails across Colorado. Posting bond and bail means a defendant will put money down with the court as a way to ensure he / she will be at court for a criminal case. In today's blog, we'll look at the different types of bonds and what can happen if you miss your court appearance.

What Are the Types of Bonds in Denver?

Courts in Denver and elsewhere in Colorado require various types of bail and bond to be posted. The different types of bail / bond are:

A cash bond

A cash bond is usually posted when you have an income and can use real money to pay for your bond. After your criminal case is finished and a sentence is complete, all of the cash put down will be given back to you.  In many cases, courts will make the bond lower if you post it completely in cash.

A property bond

A property bond is when a lien is held on real-estate property. In order to post a property bond, there must be equity in your property. The amount of equity should be at least two times greater than the bond amount. If you don't show up to court after posting a property bond, the court could foreclose on the property you've used as the bail / bond.

A surety bond

A surety bond is when a professional bondsperson gets paid to post your bond money for you. The surety bond fee you pay to the bondsperson depends on the bond amount. In all cases, the bondsman or bondswoman gets to keep the rental fee premium you pay them to come to the jail and essentially loan you the bond money.

A personal recognizance bond

A personal recognizance bond is posted at a jail. No money has to be put down for this bond, but a defendant promises to pay the court if he / she misses court. It is like an IOU, and is only permitted in less serious cases and those where the defendant does not have any prior failures to appear (FTA).

What Can Happen if I Don't Show Up in the Douglas County Court?

If you fail to appear in court in Douglas or Adams County, you could face additional criminal charges. Under C.R.S. 18-8-212, a defendant could face a class 3 misdemeanor charge for not appearing in court for a misdemeanor, or a class 6 felony charge for not appearing a court for a felony. This is called an FTA, or Failure to Appear.

More on Posting Bond and Bail? Contact a Sex Crimes Defense Attorney

Posting bond and bail in Douglas or Jefferson County, or anywhere else in Colorado can be confusing. You should always consult an expert sex crimes defense attorney if you have questions about posting bond and bail in Colorado. We are available to speak with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you or a loved one is facing a bond hearing, or needs an attorney visit / meeting with someone in the county jail, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact one of our experienced criminal defense attorneys for a free consultation at 303-830-0880. We offer 24/7 jail visits across Colorado where we can encourage your loved one and give them hope. We will then fight for their rights in the courtroom. Together, we can protect your future.