When you send your precocious kids away to college for the first time, you expect to provide the funding for the usual back-to-school things, like tuition, books, school supplies, dorm room decor, and clothing. But what you do not expect to pay for is your child’s release from jail. Although you would never like to think your son or daughter would ever be arrested and detained at a county jail, situations like this happen all the time, especially to those who least expect it.
This can be even more troubling if your kids attend college out of state or far from home. Parents in panic want to know if it is possible to bail their college student out of jail is they live faraway. Fortunately, there are resources available to help parents of college students get their kids out of jail with a bail bond. Continue reading to learn some important tips you need to know if you have a youngster headed back to campus soon.
College Bail Bonds
When a college student is arrested at school, they usually do not call home right away. It is more likely that they will try to call a friend or roommate to get them a bail bond. The problem here is that neither of them will likely qualify on their own to co-sign for a bail bond. This is about the time the parents get the dreaded call from jail.
What Parents Can Do
If you do not live near your child’s campus, you can still assist them with bail. Many bail bond companies will walk you through the entire process, and allow transfer of documents and payment via phone, email, and fax. If your kid was arrested on a minor charge, such as public intoxication, there is a good chance they will not even require a bail bond. Some states will release them after 8 to 10 hours in custody on a simple promise to appear for their court hearing. The same may apply to offenses like first-time misdemeanor DUI’s.
How Much You Need to Pay
If your kid is arrested while away at college, you can expect to pay between 10% and 15% of their total bond premium.
This percentage is regulated by each state’s Department of Insurance. Bail bondsmen can charge any fee within these limits, at their own discretion. So if your kid’s total bond amount is $2,000, then you can expect to pay anywhere between $200 and $300 for a bail bond. Most bail companies only accept cash, debit, check, and collateral as payment. Generally, payment plans are not an option.
