The bailbond works to get you on your feet back and out on the street. A bail bond is your ticket to getting out of jail, while awaiting your trial. Knowing how and why it works is probably a great thing to know. A little bail information goes a long way.

We can thank the modern bailbond bail agency on the McDonough's. Tom and Peter P. McDonough started the first establishment in 1898 as a way to help people get back on with their lives after being arrested. They believed that no one should have to sit in a jail facility waiting on a judge to rule on the case, since that could take weeks or months, depending on how many cases he or she had to preside over!

The need for bail bond agents came about as a direct need by the court system. Keeping prisoners was expensive and dangerous. Most jails had hazardous health conditions, were already understaffed, easily escapable and were a burden on an already overtaxed system that did not have the money to house every single person arrested.

Before there were county bail bonds, family members were responsible for posting bail. The first bail bond agent was likely a friend or relative who put up money or property to get you out of jail.

Authorities believed that a person was far less likely to skip out on court if they had a physical and emotional connection to the person who put up the bond. If the person jumped bail, meaning they did not show up for court, then the person would lose their property and/or money. If the person showed up to court, then the money and property would be returned.

One of the most important aspects of a bailbond is the belief that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Keeping someone locked up until their hearing, which could be months away, would be condemning an innocent man or woman to jail time that they will not be compensated for when found not guilty. The exception to this is whether or not the judge or magistrate believes that the person is a flight risk and will not show up to their court date.