Bail Bond
Private Investigation
Ville Platte (337)363-6200
Lafayette (337)233-6200
"The Largest Bondsman Agency in the State of Louisiana"
Terms & Definitions
Arraignment :
The formal act of calling the defendant into open court, informing him or her of the offense charged, and the defendant's entry of a plea to the charge
Arrest :
To take a person into custody by legal authority
Arrest Warrant :
A written order which is made on behalf of the state and is based upon a complaint issued pursuant to statue and/or court rule and which commands any law enforcement officer to arrest a person and bring before a judicial officer
Assault :
The touching of another person with an intent to harm, without that person's consent
Bail :
The release of arrested or imprisoned persons when security, cash, or property is given or pledged to ensure their appearance in court at a specified date and place. The most coming and is a surety bond in which bail is guaranteed by a commercial bail agent
Bail Bond Agent:
Any person who furnishes bail for compensation in any court in the state and who is appointed by an insurer by "Power of Attorney" to execute bail bonds
Bail Bond :
An obligation signed by the accused to secure his or her presence at trial, which he/she may lose by not appearing for trial. Also, called a bond
Bail Recovery :
Actions taken by a person other than a peace officer to apprehend an individual on bond who has failed to comply with the conditions of the bond
Bench Warrant :
An order issued by a judge for the arrest of a person
Bind Over :
To require a defendant, following a preliminary hearing, to appear and answer in a court having jurisdiction to try the defendant for the crime with which he or she is charged
Bond Premium :
The non - refundable fee charged by a bail bond agent
Booking :
Also known as "booked". Part of the process of being arrested in which the details of who a person is and why he or she was arrested are recorded into the police records
Booking Fee :
A fee charged by a jail when the person is booked in
Cash Bond :
A bond that must be posted in cash only
Charge :
This includes the complaint, information, or indictment charging the accused with the commission of a crime
Citation :
An order to appear in court at a certain place at a specified time. Issuance of a citation is not an arrest
Collateral :
An asset that a borrower agrees to give up if he or she fails to repay a loan
Complaint :
In a criminal action , a complaint is the preliminary charge filed by the complaining party, usually with the police or a court
Contempt of Court :
Any act calculated to embarrass, hinder, or obstruct a court, or calculated to lessen its authority or dignity. Direct contempt is committed in the immediate presence of the court and may be punished summarily without a jury trial. An indirect contempt usually is a failure or refusal to obey a court order
Crime :
An act or omission which is prohibited by criminal law
Criminal Case :
A case brought by the government against an individual accused of committing a crime
Custody :
In criminal cases, this means the restraint of a person's freedom in any significant way
Defendant :
In criminal cases, the person accused of the crime
Deferred Prosecution :
An arrangement made between the District Attorney and defendant before trial halting the prosecution of a defendant for up to two years on the condition that he or she successfully meets conditions of probation, usually some type of counseling or drug or alcohol treatment. If conditions of probation are violated, the defendant may be tried on the original charge
Deferred Sentence or Judgment :
An arrangement in which a defendant who pleads guilty is placed on probation for up to two years, usually with conditions. If the defendant successfully completes probation, the guilty plea is withdrawn and the case is dismissed. If the defendant fails probation, he or she may be sentenced based upon the guilty plea
Dismissal :
The termination of a case
Dismissal with Prejudice :
When a case is dismissed for good reason and the plaintiff is barred from bringing an action on the same claim. A dismissal with prejudice allows "no refilling"
Dismissal without Prejudice :
The dismissal of a case while allowing the party to sue again on the same cause of action at some future time. A dismissal "with prejudice" bars refiling of the lawsuit or charge
District Attorney :
Under the state governments, the prosecuting officer who represents the state in each of its judicial districts
Docket :
A schedule of proceedings
Double Jeopardy :
The constitutional prohibition against a second prosecution of a person for the same crime
Due Process :
The idea that laws and leak proceedings must be fair. The Constitution guarantees that the government cannot take away a person's basic rights to "life, liberty or property, without due process of law." Courts have issued numerous rulings about what this means in particular cases
Entrapment :
The act of officers or agents of a government including a person to commit a crime otherwise not contemplated for the purpose of prosecuting that person
Evidence :
The testimony, writings, material objects, or other things presented to the senses that are offered to prove the existence or nonexistence of a fact
Extradition :
The surrender by one state of an individual accused of an offense to another state
Felony :
A crime punishable by death or by imprisonment in a state rental institution
Forfeiture :
Occurs when the defendant on bond fails to appear in court
Forgery :
The false making or material altering, with intent to defraud, of any writing which, if genuine, might be the foundation of a legal liability
Fraud :
Deceitful conduct designed to manipulate another person to give something of value by (1) lying, (2) repeating something that is or ought to have been know by the fraudulent party as false or suspect or (3) by concealing a fact from the other party from being cheated. Fugitive : One who runs away to avoid arrest, prosecution or imprisonment
Habitual Offender :
Also know as a "recidivist". A person who is convicted and sentenced for crimes over period of time and even after serving sentences if incarceration, such as demonstrates a propensity toward criminal conduct
Harassment :
Used in variety of legal contexts to describe words, gestures, and actions which tend to annoy, alarm and abuse (verbally) another person
Hearsay :
Evidence that is not within the personal knowledge of the witness but was relayed to the witness by a third party
Hearing Date :
The time, in criminal law, for the trial of a person charged with a crime of misdemeanor
Incarceration :
Imprisonment, confinement ina jail or penitentiary
Indictment :
A written statement, presented by a grand jury to the district court, which charges the commission of a crime by an alleged offender
Indigent :
Meeting certain standards of poverty, thereby, qualifying a criminal defendant for a public defender, waiver of fees and court - appointed counsel
Information :
A written statement signed by a district attorney presented to the district court, which charges the commission of a crime by an alleged offender
Infractions :
Sometimes called violations. Minor offenses, often traffic tickets, which are punishable only by a fine
Judgment :
In a criminal case, it includes the pronouncement of guilt and the sentence
Jurisdiction :
The power, right or authority to apply the law
Jury :
Citizens sworn to inquire into matters of fact and declare the truth about matters laid before them during a trial
Jury Instructions :
The judge's instructions to the jury on the issues to be decided and the rules of law that apply to the case
Jury Trial :
A trial whereby a group of citizens serving as a jury listens to evidence presented in court and gives its verdict
Kidnapping :
The unlawful taking and carrying away of a human being by force and against his or her will
Knowingly :
With knowledge, willfully, with respect to a material element of an offense
Lawyer:
A person learned in the law ; an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person licensed to practice law
Leading Question :
A question so worded that the desired answer is suggested to the witness, particularly when it may be answered by yes or no, It is proper on cross-examination, it is normally prohibited on direct examination unless the witness is hostile or unless the court allows it. Lesser included offense : One composed of some, but not all, of elements of the greater crime and which does not have any element not included in the greater offense
Minor :
A person who does not have the legal rights of an adult. A minor is usually defined as someone who has not yet reached the age of majority. In most states, a person reaches majority and acquires all of the rights and responsibilities of an adult when he or she turns 18
Miranda Rule :
Before any interrogation by law enforcement authorities after a person is taken into custody, he or she must be warned: (1) that she/he has a right to remain silent; (2) that any statement she/he does make will be used as evidence against her/him; (3) that she/he has a right to the presence of a lawyer; (4) that if she/he cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for her/him prior to any questioning if she/he so desires; and (5) that she/he may end the questioning at any time.
Misdemeanor :
A criminal offense punishable by a sentence of two years or less to the county jail.
Mistrial :
A trial terminated prior to a verdict as a result of a fundamental error prejudicial to the defendant.
Mitigating Circumstance :
A circumstance which does not constitute a justification or excuse for an offense, but which may be considered as reducing the degree of moral culpability.
Motion :
An application for a rule or order, made to the judge.
Motion for New Trial :
Request in which a losing party asserts that a trial was unfair due to legal errors that prejudiced its case.
Nolle Prosequi :
The notice that a prosecutor will no longer pursue charges, i.e., the dropping of charges.
Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity :
A person who is so diseased or defective in mind at the time of the commission of the act as to be incapable of distinguishing right from wrong with respect to that act is not accountable.” A defendant found not guilty by reason of insanity is committed to the Department of Institutions until declared sane.
Offense :
A felony or misdemeanor, a breach of criminal laws that subjects the offender to imprisonment, and/or fines.
Own Recognizance :
Sometimes called personal recognizance bond. A person who promises to appear in court to answer criminal charges can sometimes be released from jail without having to pay bail. This person is said to be released on his or her own recognizance.
Order :
A command from the court directing or forbidding an action.
Perjury :
The criminal offense of making a false statement under oath.
Personal Recognizance :
A type of bail consisting of a written promise to appear in court when required. A bond secured only by the personal obligation of the person giving the bond. See Own Recognizance.
Plea :
Five pleas possible in criminal cases: (1) not guilty; (2) not guilty by reason of insanity; (3) not guilty because of impaired mental condition; (4) no contest; and (5) guilty.
Plea-Bargaining :
The process whereby the accused and the prosecutor negotiate a mutually satisfactory disposition of the case. The defendant may plead guilty to a lesser offense or to only one or some of the charges. In return, the defendant seeks concessions on the type and length of sentence or a reduction of counts charged.
PR Bond :
Also known as a personal recognizance bond, is a bond in which the court allows a defendant to sign his own name to a bond.
Preliminary Hearing :
A hearing in which a judge or magistrate determines there are sufficient grounds to compel the accused to stand trial. If probable cause is found, a defendant is “bound over” for trial.
Preponderance of Evidence :
The greater weight of evidence, or evidence that is more credible and convincing to the mind.
Pre-Sentence Investigation :
The abbreviation is “PSI”. An investigation conducted at the request of the court after a person has been found guilty of a criminal offense. Provides the court with extensive background information to determine an appropriate sentence.
Pre-Sentence Report :
A report prepared by a probation department for a judicial officer to assist in the sentencing. Typically contains information about prior convictions, arrests, work history, family details and interview between the probation department and the defendant.
Presumption of Innocence :
Every defendant enters a trial presumed to be innocent. The presumption remains until and unless the state overcomes the presumption by competent evidence of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Pre-Trial Diversion :
Also known as adjournment in contemplation of dismissal or conditional dismissal. A program in which a Defendant essentially is put on probation for a set period of time and his/her case does not go to trial during that time. If the Defendant meets the conditions set by the court, then the charge will be dismissed.
Probable Cause :
Reasonable cause, having more evidence for than against. A reasonable ground for belief in the existence of facts that a particular event occurred.
Probation :
The sentence of a court whereby an individual is put under the jurisdiction of a probation officer, rather than incarcerated. Sometimes, a short jail sentence is a condition of probation. It is the most widely used correctional disposition both in Colorado and in the United States.
Pro Bono :
For the good; used to describe work or services done or performed free of charge.
Promissory Note :
A written document in which a borrower agrees (promises) to pay back money to a lender according to specified terms.
Property Bond :
A bond where the financial amount of the bond is guaranteed by real estate owned by the defendant or a third party in which the equity is at least 1.5 times the amount of the bond.
Prosecutor :
A government lawyer who tries criminal cases, typically known as the District Attorney, State’s Attorney or the United States Attorney.
Protective Order :
In litigation, an order that prevents the disclosure of sensitive information except to certain individuals under certain conditions. In a domestic dispute, an order that prevents one party from approaching another, often within a specified distance.
PSI :
Abbreviation for Pre-Sentence Investigation, used to gather information for a pre-sentence report from the probation department or a private probation.
Public Defender :
A lawyer employed by the government to represent individuals accused of crimes that cannot afford their own attorney.
Reasonable Doubt :
That state of mind of jurors in which they cannot say that the crime charged has been proved. Reasonable doubt is based on reason and common sense. It is not vague, speculative, or imaginary. It would cause reasonable persons to hesitate to act in matters of importance to themselves.
Search Warrant :
An order in writing by a judicial officer, directing a law enforcement officer to search for and seize any property that constitutes evidence of the commission of a crime, contraband, the fruits of crime or things otherwise criminally possessed; or property designed or intended for use which is or has been used as the means of committing a crime. A search warrant may be issued upon an affidavit or sworn oral testimony.
Self-Defense :
The protection of one’s person or property against some injury attempted by another. The law of self-defense justifies an act done in the reasonable belief of immediate danger.
Statutes of Limitations :
Laws setting deadlines for filing lawsuits within a certain time after events occur that are the source of a claim.
Stay :
An order stopping a judicial proceeding or execution of a judgment.
Subpoena :
An order to a witness to appear and testify at a specified time and place.
Summons :
An order to a sheriff or other officer to notify a named person that a civil action has been commenced against him or her and that he or she is required to appear within a specified period and answer the complaint. A written order or notice directing that a person appear before a designated court at a stated time and place and answer to a charge against him or her. The document initiates all civil law suits and is referred to as process.
Suppression of Evidence :
A trial judge’s ruling that evidence sought to be admitted should be excluded because it was illegally acquired. A hearing for this is required outside the presence of a jury, often before trial.
Surety Appearance Bond :
A bond that is posted by a bail bonding agent.
Verdict :
The opinion rendered by a jury, or a judge where there is no jury, on a question of fact. A verdict differs from a judgment in that a verdict is not a judicial determination, but is a finding of fact.
Victim Impact Statement :
A written statement from the victim detailing how the crime has impacted them. This statement will include a section showing the financial losses of the victim due to the crime, which could ultimately be ordered by the court and recovered as restitution.
Warrant :
An order issued by a judicial officer of a court of record directed to any peace officer commanding the arrest of the person named or described in the order.
Warrant-less Arrest :
An arrest of a person without a warrant. It is generally permissible if the arresting officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person has committed a felony or if the person has committed a misdemeanor amounting to a breach of the peace.