Bail Bond Laws in New Haven, CT
Each state has unique bail laws regarding bail bond services and insurance. Complying with these laws is critical if you have a loved one in jail facing a criminal charge.
In this guide, we at Connecticut Bail Bonds Group discuss the New Haven bail laws that apply to bail agreements, premiums, and processes. Familiarizing yourself with these laws can help streamline the bail process. You can also schedule a consultation with us to learn how our bail bond services can benefit you.
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New Haven Bail Laws Overview
Every New Haven bail bondsman must be licensed to work in Connecticut. The Connecticut Insurance Department regulates the bail bonds industry and sets the standard bail bond rates called “bail premiums.”
Before executing a bail bond, the bail agent must get authorization from the detainee. A third party responsible for paying the bond can also authorize the bond. For example, if you are arranging bail on behalf of a family member in jail, you can authorize the bail bond.
The bail bondsman can provide a payment plan if you cannot pay the bail premium in full. Under this agreement, you can pay the premium in monthly installments for a period of up to 15 months.
Bail Contracts Require Co-signing
Bail bonds in New Haven County must follow the Connecticut fee schedule. According to this schedule, bail premiums must be 10% of a bail amount between $500 and $5,000. An additional 7% fee applies to any amount over and above $5,000. If the bail amount is lower than $500, the bail premium is $50.
For example, suppose the bail amount is $7,000. In this case, the bail premium is $640, which is the sum of:
- $500 (10% of the first $5,000)
- $140 (7% of the remaining $2,000)
Under Connecticut Insurance Department regulations, you must pay 35% of the bail premium upfront when signing a payment plan. For example, if the bail premium is $640, the minimum bail deposit is $224.
Bail Limitations for Misdemeanor Offenses
Since 2017, House Bill 7044 has prevented defendants with financial difficulties from staying behind bars because they can’t afford bail. Under new Connecticut state law, New Haven courts may only set cash bail if:
- The criminal charge involves family violence
- The defendant is a flight risk due to unemployment, a history of failure to appear, and no community ties
- The defendant has a criminal history and is a danger to themselves or others
In cases where none of the above situations apply, the police must release the defendant with a summons and court date. However, if a defendant fails to appear on this date, the court may issue a warrant for arrest and charge them with a separate crime. During the bail hearing following arrest, the court will likely find that the defendant is a flight risk and set bail.
Suppose the court sets a bail amount that the defendant cannot afford. In this case, a bail hearing must take place within 14 days. Before the changes in bail laws, this period was 30 days.
Cash Bail Repayments in New Haven
The court will only order a cash bail refund when a criminal case closes, and the defendant appeared on all court dates and complied with all bail restrictions. The bail repayment can occur even if the court finds the defendant guilty.
Depending on the circumstances of the case, the court may also repay the bail amount when the defendant completes a diversionary program, such as an alcohol or drug treatment program.
