Frequently Asked Questions about Warrants, Arrests, and Bail Bonding in Williamson and Travis CountiesWhere do I go to get information on whether bail has been set for my loved one and for how much? How can I find out when my loved one will see the magistrate? How can I find out more information about the charges?The quickest way to be informed about when someone will be magistrated (seen by the magistrate Judge) is to call Freedom Bail Bonds and one of our licensed agents will go to the jail, and have your loved one call us immediately after they are magistrated and we can forward the information directly to you. Contact Freedom Bail Bonds: You can also go online to find out what the criminal charges are and if there is a bond set. If a person was arrested on a warrant or has been in jail several days then you can get the information from either the County Clerk or from the District Clerk, depending on the case. If the defendant is charged with a misdemeanor, the case will go to the County Clerk. If it’s a felony charge, the case will go to the District Clerk. If you’re not sure who to call, you can always call our bail bond agents to ask for help. We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, just a phone call away. The call is confidential. How do I bail or bond someone out of jail?If you want to pay the bond yourself without using a bail bondsman, you can bring a cashier’s check to the jail, but the court will not accept personal checks or credit cards, and that they will require you to pay the full amount of the bond. You may not get this money back for many months. Freedom Bail Bonds fee is just a fraction of the full bond amount. We accept cash, credit cards, and personal checks. Or you can send up to $5,000 by Western Union Quick Collect for less than $15.00. You can also pay online through our web site. How fast can you secure jail release from the County Jail for my loved one?Williamson County: We will secure jail release as fast as the law allows. At the Williamson County Jail a magistrate (judge) comes to the courthouse every day at 8 a.m. to arraign the people arrested since the previous evening. If your loved one was arrested on an outstanding warrant, then he or she might already have a preset bond. In this case, he or she may, on the advice of an attorney, sign a “Waiver of Right to be Magistrated,” and we should be able to post bond right away. If your loved one was arrested on sight for something that happened at the time of the arrest (not for an outstanding warrant), then he or she must wait to see the magistrate in the morning. We can post bond as soon as the bail is set. In the meantime, we can go to the County Jail to let your loved one know that help is on its way and to explain the bail bond process. Travis County: We will secure jail release as fast as the law allows. A magistrate (judge) will arraign the people arrested several times a day. If your loved one was arrested on an outstanding warrant, then he or she might already have a preset bond. In this case, he or she should be able to post bond right away. If your loved one was arrested on sight for something that happened at the time of the arrest (not for an outstanding warrant), then he or she must wait to see the magistrate. We can post bond as soon as the bail is set. In the meantime, we can go to the Travis County Jail to let your loved one know that help is on its way and to explain the bail bond process. Do you require collateral for a bail bond?In most cases we do not require collateral to post a bail bond for you at the Travis County Jail. We evaluate each situation individually. It depends on many factors: the nature of the charges, the amount of bail required, and the likelihood that the defendant will leave town. If we believe your loved one represents a low flight risk, chances are good that we’ll accept a signature bond instead of collateral. What if my loved one doesn’t appear in court when due?Failure to Appear (FTA) will require that a bail recovery agent must locate and bring in the defendant. Remember, Williamson County doesn’t give us back the bond money until the defendant comes to court. As the cosigner, you sign a contract stating that you’ll accept responsibility for all financial charges related to bringing the bondee back to the court or having them re-arrested. I have the money for the bond, or I’ve contracted with a bail bondsman. Why can’t my loved one be released immediately?At Freedom Bail Bonds, we can secure the jail release of your loved one as fast as the law allows. In Williamson County every arrested person must first appear before a magistrate to determine the bail amount. If the defendant was arrested during the evening hours, this often means that he or she must wait until 8 a.m. to appear before the magistrate to have the bail amount set. In Travis County the magistrates often times work around the clock and so in most cases your loved one will see a Judge and have a bond set within 4 to 8 hours after arrest. What is a cash bond?A cash bond is different from a surety bond, because the full amount of a cash bond must be paid by cash, cashier’s check, or money order. (You can’t pay just a percentage of the bond amount, which is allowed with surety bonds.) If the defendant fails to appear in court when scheduled, the entire cash bond amount is forfeited. If a cash bond is required, can I still use a bail bondsman?Call us any time day or night to discuss your case, and we can help you determine whether bail bond services will work for you. Contact Freedom Bail Bonds: How can I get a refund for a cash bond that I’ve posted?Cash bonds won’t be refunded until the case has been fully disposed, meaning the defendant has appeared on all court dates and has complied with all of the conditions of the bond. This can take many months, sometimes more than a year. After the criminal case has concluded, the fund order is signed by a judge and processed through the system, and the check is mailed. When you use a bail bondsman, such as Freedom Bail Bonds, it’s our money that’s tied up until the case has been resolved. We put up the money for bail. In exchange for that service, our professional fee is just a fraction of the bail amount. Call us and we can explain the process to you over the phone. We’re available 24/7, and there’s no obligation with the call. Contact Freedom Bail Bonds: Where do I go to pick up an inmate released from County jail?Williamson County: When an inmate is released, you can pick up him or her outside the Williamson County jail reception area at 306 West 4th Street in Georgetown, TX. If Freedom Bail Bonds arranged for the persons release they will walk across the street from the jail to our office (307 S. Rock Street) and will be waiting there. Travis County: 500 West 10th Street in downtown Austin and 3614 Bill Price Road in Del Valle. Where do I go to deliver medication for an inmate in jail?Williamson County: Prescription medication may be delivered to the Williamson County jail reception desk at 306 West 4th Street in Georgetown, TX. Call (512) 943-1365 and speak to a "medical officer" to be directed on exactly how and when to do this process. Travis County: Prescription medication may be delivered to the Travis County Jail downtown at 500 West 10th Street in downtown Austin and the Del Valle Jail facility at 3614 Bill Price Road in Del Valle. Call first to get instruction from the medical staff at (512) 854-9033. How do I know if someone has an outstanding warrant for arrest in Williamson or Travis County, Texas?Just give us a call any time of the day or night and we can help you find this information. We are open 24 hours a day and you do not have to come to our office. We can help you by fax, phone, and email. Contact Freedom Bail Bonds: You can also look at the public records for Williamson or Travis County at the following links: What's the difference between jail and prison?In Texas, jails are administered by the county, while prisons are administered by the state. Inmates are in jail for periods up to about a year. Prisons house convicted criminals for longer periods than that, sometimes much longer. What is the difference between a criminal case and a civil case?A criminal case centers on an alleged illegal action by the defendant, whether a felony or a misdemeanor. Some examples include DWI, Sexual Assault, Motion to Revoke Probation (MTRP), Theft, Criminal Mischief, Child Abuse, Assault and Battery, etc. The police arrest the defendant in a criminal case. The person can either await trial in jail, or if a magistrate sets a bond amount, the person can pay a bail bond in order to be free until the case is adjudicated. A civil case centers on disagreements between citizens. A defendant cannot be arrested on a civil matter. (Sometimes, an action leads to both a criminal case and a civil case, but only the criminal case can lead to arrest.) What if I don’t see the answer to my question here?Call us for a free consultation. We feel it is our job to educate you about the bail system and help you understand every option. This is how we earn our clients' trust. We’re available 24 hours a day to answer all your questions. Click here to read what some of our clients say about Freedom Bail Bonds. Contact Freedom Bail Bonds:
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