Surety Bonds:

This process involves a contractual undertaking guaranteed by an admitted insurance company having adequate assets to satisfy the face value of the bond. The bail agent guarantees to the court that they will pay the bond forfeiture if a defendant fails to appear for their scheduled court appearances. The bail agent's guarantee is made through a surety company and/or by the pledge of property owned by the agent.

For this service, the defendant is charged a premium. To be released pursuant to the posting of a surety bond, the arrestee, or a relative or friend of the arrestee, typically contacts an authorized bail agent Prior to the posting of a surety bond, the bail agent undertakes a detailed interview of the proposed guarantor of the surety bond, as well as of the arrestee and relatives of the arrestee, as part of the underwriting procedure for bond.

By involving the family and friends, as well as through the acceptance of collateral, the bail agent can be reasonably assured that an individual released on surety bond will appear at his or her appointed court date, as required until the case is adjudicated.

After this procedure is concluded, if an agreement is reached, the bail agent posts a bond for the amount of the bail, to guarantee the arrestee's return to court.

With his money on the line, a bail agent has a financial interest in supervising bailees, and ensuring that they appear for trial. If a defendant "skips," the bail agent has time and the financial incentive to find him/her and bring him/her in. Significantly, commercial bail bond agents profit only when the defendant shows up for trial. Judges acknowledge that bail agents have highly efficient methods to get defendants to court.

Immigration Bonds:

Immigration bail bonds differ from normal court bail bonds due to the difficulty they present for the bail bond agent. Normal licenses for bail bonds are not sufficient for immigration bonds.

Immigration Bonds are a form of Federal Bond and Performance Bond combined into one. Immigration Bonds are typically set for detainees held by the US Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) pending a hearing or court appearance.