What You Need to Bail Someone Out of Jail in Alabama

What you need to bail someone out of jail in Alabama is short: their full legal name and date of birth, the jail holding them, the charge and bail amount, a co-signer with photo ID, and a way to pay. With those five things in hand, a licensed bail bond company has what it needs to start the bond.

Have the name but none of the rest? Call today: 205-401-8052. Bail Bonds of Alabama answers 24 hours a day and we can find the rest with you.

Here is everything you need to bail someone out of jail, in the order you will need it.

Key takeaways

• Start with the person’s full legal name and date of birth, which every jail roster search uses.
• Find out which jail is holding them, because Jefferson County has separate jails in Birmingham and Bessemer.
• The charge and the bail amount set the bail bond fee, which is normally 10% to 15% of the bail in Alabama.
• The co-signer needs photo ID and must understand they are responsible for the full bail if the defendant misses court.
• You can pay by debit card, credit card, or the online payment authorization form, and creative financing is available upon approval.

1. Their full legal name and date of birth

Jail rosters search by name. A nickname, a missing middle name, or a misspelled last name can hide the person you are looking for.

Write down the full legal name exactly as it appears on their ID, plus their date of birth. If you have their booking number from a phone call, write that down too, because it is the fastest search of all.

Not sure how they spell it on paper? Call today and we will search with every version you give us.

2. Which jail is holding them

The jail decides where the bond is posted and how release works. In our three core counties:

Jefferson County’s inmate inquiry is linked from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office website, and one search covers both facilities. Shelby County’s is on the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office website, and St. Clair County’s is on the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office website. Some cities, including Hoover, Homewood, and Gardendale, run their own city jails, so check with the city as well as the county.

Our Find an Inmate page lists jails and police departments across the area. Still stuck? Call today and we will track down the facility.

3. The charge and the bail amount

The roster usually shows the charge and the bond status. Both matter.

The bail amount sets the fee. In Alabama the bail bond fee is normally 10% to 15% of the bail, and it is non-refundable. On a $5,000 bail, that is about $500 to $750.

The charge sets the range. Judges start from the schedule in Rule 7.2(b) of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure. A Class A misdemeanor runs $300 to $6,000, a DUI runs $1,000 to $7,500, and a Class C felony runs $2,500 to $15,000. Misdemeanor bail starts at $300 for each charge under Ala. Code § 15-13-105.

Sometimes bail has yet to be set. After an arrest, a judge sets release conditions at the initial appearance under Rule 4.4. For certain violent offenses listed in Ala. Code § 15-13-3, bail can be denied after a pretrial detention hearing. If the roster reads “No Bond,” read Aniah’s Law in Alabama, then call today, because a second charge or a co-defendant may still be bondable.

4. A co-signer with photo ID

The co-signer, also called the indemnitor, signs the bail bond agreement with the company. Bring a valid photo ID and be ready to share your contact details.

Before you sign, understand the two promises you are making:

• He goes to every court date. Every release order in Alabama requires it under Rule 7.3(a), along with committing no new offense, staying in the state unless the court allows travel, and reporting any change of address.
• You cover the full bail if he misses court. Under Ala. Code § 15-13-131, a missed court date leads to a conditional forfeiture order against the defendant and the sureties.

Want those terms read to you line by line before you commit? Call today: 205-401-8052.

5. A way to pay

At Bail Bonds of Alabama you can pay by:

• Debit card
• Credit card
• The online payment authorization form, completed on your phone

Creative financing is available, upon approval, with 0% interest when the plan is paid in full within 12 months. Our Virtual Bail Office™ handles the whole initial bond from a phone, tablet, or computer, and our No Jail Visit Guarantee means we post the bond at the facility for you.

Read bondsman payment plans in Alabama for how the plan works.

What you need to bail someone out with property

A property bond uses real estate as security. Bring the property details and make sure every required owner can sign. Two local rules catch families off guard:

• St. Clair County requires two property owners on all felony bonds. Bonds there are posted at the Sheriff’s Office in Ashville (48 6th St.) or Pell City (1610 Cogswell Ave.).
• In Shelby County, a property bond secured by real estate in another county needs that county’s sheriff’s approval first.

Property bonds can take longer to arrange than a bail bond, because ownership and value have to be confirmed. If time matters tonight, call today and compare.

What happens after the bond is posted?

We post the bond at the jail, and the jail runs its own release process. At the Jefferson County Jail, release typically takes 5 to 6 hours after the bond is posted. That time belongs to the jail’s paperwork, property return, and records check.

Use the wait to plan the ride home and write down the first court date. Read how long release takes after bond is posted for what happens during those hours.

Frequently asked questions

What do you need to bail someone out of jail?

Their full legal name and date of birth, the jail holding them, the charge and bail amount, a co-signer with photo ID, and a payment method.

Do you need ID to bail someone out of jail?

Yes. The co-signer signing the bail bond agreement should bring a valid photo ID.

Can you bail someone out without knowing their charge?

You can start. A bail bond company can look up the charge and bail amount from the jail’s records once it has the person’s name and the jail.

How much money do you need to bail someone out in Alabama?

With a bail bond, normally 10% to 15% of the bail amount. At Bail Bonds of Alabama, creative financing is available upon approval.

Can you bail someone out at night in Alabama?

Yes. Bail Bonds of Alabama answers 24 hours a day, and the St. Clair County Jail lobby in Pell City is open 24 hours.

Where to go next

• How to bail someone out of jail in Alabama: the step-by-step guide
• How do bail bonds work in Alabama? The whole process, start to finish
• What does a bail bondsman do?
• Bail Bonds 101 and Arrests & Jail Release
• Bail bonds in Jefferson County, Shelby County, and St. Clair County

Bail Bonds of Alabama has served Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair Counties since 2014. One call. That’s all. Call today: 205-401-8052, 24 hours a day.

This article is general information about bailing someone out of jail in Alabama. It is not legal advice. For advice about a specific case, talk to a licensed Alabama attorney.