Bail in Everett, WA

Bail is designed to guarantee the appearance of a defendant in court at the time directed by the judge. When an individual is arrested for a crime in Washington, typically that person will be taken to a local law enforcement station for booking, prior to incarceration in a station lock-up or county jail. Once arrested and booked, the defendant has several options for release pending the conclusion of his or her case.

In Washington, the bail premium, or fee, is typically 10% of the full bail amount. For example, if the bail amount is $10,000, the premium charged is $1,000.

Typically, the 10% premium is fully earned once the bail bond is posted with a jail or court. That is how bail agents and the surety companies make their money and pay their bills.

Collateral is anything of value used to secure a bail bond financially. What can be used as collateral? Some examples of collateral include a signature, credit cards, houses, cars, boats, jewelry, or electronic equipment.

Collateral is usually returned when the court has finished with the defendant's case or cases, exonerating the bail bonds, and when all fees have been paid.

There are two types of jails, city and county jails. The city police departments operate city jails, and the county sheriff operates county jails. After a defendant is booked into a city jail, it typically takes anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour to be released on bail. After a defendant is booked into a county jail, it usually takes anywhere from two to six hours to be released on bail.