Are Bail Bonds Public Records?

When someone gets arrested in Wake County, North Carolina, not much is private. However, when you post a bond or obtain a bond from a bondsman, only general information about the bond will become public information. If an individual posts the cash bail, that person’s name will appear in the court records. If the individual pays a bondsman to post the bond, that person’s name will not appear in the court records but will appear in the bondsman’s business records.

What Is a Bail Bond?

Bail bonds are surety bonds. They are essentially a three-party agreement involving the bail bondsman who provides the money, the individual who gets the bond by paying for it, and the defendant who needs the cash to get out of jail. If the defendant doesn’t show up when required, the bond is forfeited, and the party paying for the bond is liable for the entire balance.

The court sets the defendant’s bail after the defendant’s arraignment. A North Carolina bail bondsman then posts the bond once the defendant or cosigner pays the premium (As low as 3% down or 5% flat ). The licensed bail agent or bail bondsman will issue the bond after receiving the premium as an appointed representative of the insurance company that gives the surety bond. If the defendant doesn’t appear in court, the co-signer is 100% liable to the bondsman.

Is the Bond a Public Record?

Most of the information provided to the bail bondsman is not public information. Bondsmen even have a code of ethics that requires them to keep certain specific information confidential. Furthermore, bondsmen are not public employees or government representatives, so they are not subject to open records requests.

Details recorded at the time a defendant gets arrested are public records. These records include things like the defendant’s personal information such as name and address, the defendant’s criminal history, if any, fingerprints, photographs of the scene or the defendant, a copy of any criminal background checks on the defendant, and information about any search conducted and property confiscated.

Your Best Bail Bond Option

If you are a private citizen contemplating putting up the cash for the bond for a friend or relative, you may be hesitating because you don’t want your name to appear in the court record of a criminal case. If that’s your concern, turn to the bail bond professionals Big Mike Bail Bonds. Big Mike, and his licensed professional agents, use their knowledge and skills to help you and your loved ones through a painful experience. We have your best interests at heart and know what we’re doing.

Getting arrested is only the beginning of a long and miserable process. Big Mike and his personnel can help you and your loved one through a lot of that process. We’re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that we can be there for you. If you need a bond, contact us as soon as possible and let us help you get out of jail!

At Big Mike Bail Bonds, we believe that bad things can happen to good people. Even a small mistake can land you in big trouble. With our experience, we can get you out of jail and on with your life. The team at Big Mike Bail Bonds will help find the best bond for you with affordable options. We serve Raleigh, NC as well as areas across Central and Eastern North Carolina including Wake, Johnson, Sampson, and Harnett Counties. If you have questions or you or a loved one needs help covering costs to get out of jail and through the bail process, call Big Mike at 919-934-5656 to see how we can help!