Student Bonding:

Student Bonding Explained

Students are generally considered a high flight risk. Meaning it is very easy for many of them to pack up and go home to whichever state or country they moved here from which is why many area bondsman do not help students.

M.U. Bail Bonds - Josh Kayser is the only bond agency around that is designed to protect the interest of both the general public and students of University of Missouri (Mizzou), Columbia College, Stephens College, and Moberly Area Community College. We understand the importance to open up our services to students and their families when no one else will and have specialized rates and procedures to be sure the process is as simple and painless for students in Columbia, Missouri and Boone County.

The parents of college students know that college tuition anywhere in Columbia, Missouri is an expensive venture. Throughout the coming school year they know they’ll write checks for tuition, dorm furnishings, books, meal plans, and, of course, there will be unplanned expenses. All parents expect to get calls asking for more money, but few are prepared for their son or daughter to call from jail and ask for bail bond money.

This isn't just an unexpected expense but it’s the initial shock and worry of an arrest of a young adult. It’s not just a financial decision; it’s an emotional and emotionally challenging time for parents and students.

Most parents have no idea what to do next and are full of questions. Should they stay out of it and "teach the kid a lesson" or post bail? If they want to help, what's the next step? Can they even afford to pay for a bail bond? Is it possible to bail out someone in another state? The best way to get answers is to call MU Bail Bonds - Josh Kayser at (573) 442-5311 so one of their licensed, professional bail bond agents can walk you through the process and ease your worries.

Parents' Dilemma: To Bail or Not to Bail?

The most common question most parents ask themselves is "should I post bail?" They're thinking of all the times they had talked to their teen and told them "you go to jail, better be prepared to spend the night." A night in jail is a lesson nobody will ever forget.

However, jail conditions vary widely. For instance, in Boone County, a college student who isn't bailed out quickly from a local jail may end up in the Boone County Sheriff’s Department facilities general population. MU Bail Bonds - Josh Kayser is here to help make sure they are out and accounted for before that has to happen.

In Columbia, Missouri, a night of college partying and having fun can have serious implications. Jail is a scary place to be and can be dangerous.

Of course, not all arrests land a young person in a violent jail, but location is an important consideration. The City of Columbia Police Department and MU Police Department jails don't keep detainees for a long period of time. If they aren't bailed out quickly, defendants are transferred to the Boone County Sheriff’s Department and Jail and have to go through the arrest and booking process all over again.

That promised "night in jail" could literally become days in jail if the student isn't bailed out promptly.

Any way you cut it, dealing with the legal process itself is enough to "teach a lesson" to any student who will learn it. The student suddenly is faced with the embarrassment of arrest and booking, loss of personal freedom, and the prospect of explaining himself to the law and court system. College students make mistakes and show bad judgment – parents might say horribly bad judgment – but leaving them in jail longer isn't necessary to create an impact.

Bail Bond Agents Prefer to Work with Families

Don't be surprised if your college student calls someone else first when they're arrested. Bail bondsmen get a lot of calls from friends or roommates, mainly because no kid wants to call his parents from jail. Usually though, parents have to get involved if bail is higher than a young budding student can be liable for. Even though college friends want to help, most don't have the means to pay the full bail amount and often don’t qualify for a bail bond from a bail company. If you are a college student looking to obtain a bail bond for a friend please call us immediately so we can determine eligibility.

A bail agent usually insists that a parent or family member get involved to vouch for the student and take responsibility for making sure they’ll show up in court for larger bonds. Generally, parents and grandparents know the student best and know that the matter will be addressed seriously. Distance isn't a problem: MU Bail Bonds - Josh Kayser work with clients around the world by phone, email, and fax. We take all major credit cards and can handle wire transfers and other payment methods. When necessary, we will even arrange a payment plan.

When you contact a bail agent, be prepared to answer some questions about yourself, the student, and share some financial information. The bail bond interview process may seem intrusive, but it’s a necessary part of determining risk. If the person getting bailed out doesn't show up in court, the bail bond agent, and ultimately the person who bailed him or her out, is liable for the full bail amount. Agents have to be very careful and make sure they're dealing with people who will take responsibility for the situation and keep their promises to appear in court.

For parents, it's terrifying to have a child in jail and even worse if the jail is out of state. But our agents can help you 24 hours a day no matter where you're located. They'll explain how bail bonds work, provide payment options, and advise you on whether you even need to start the bail bond process.

Most Arrests Involve Alcohol or Drug Related Offenses

Unfortunately, alcohol abuse is about as common as skipping classes on college campuses – and may actually cause absences. According to studies compiled at CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov, 25% of college students report that excessive drinking has caused academic problems. The same Web site reports that: "…an estimated 110,000 students a year are arrested for an alcohol-related violation such as driving under the influence or public drunkenness."

Drinking problems aren't limited to campuses. A substantial number of students become involved in bar fights, heated disagreements at sporting events, and similar altercations, with almost 700,000 cases of alcohol-related assault reported each year. When students combine their inexperience with alcohol with fluctuating hormones and overly emotional responses to events, the result is often an arrest on alcohol and/or assault charges.

Even so, most parents expect college students to experiment with alcohol. They're far more frightened when a child is arrested on drug charges. Parents are shocked at the thought of a child using drugs and worried about the consequences. Besides the obvious health concerns, the penalties for drug offenses can be much more severe than for alcohol-related charges.

Minor Offenses May Not Require Bail

Depending on the offense, a bail bond may not be necessary. Students are often arrested, booked, and then released with a citation to appear in court commonly referred as “release on own recognizance."

Authorities are most likely to allow a “release on own recognizance" when dealing with relatively minor offenses like public drunkenness or a basic municipal offenses. "Basic" means that the person doesn’t have a history of arrests, there was no accident involved, no minors in the vehicle, no leaving the scene, resisting arrest, etc. In those cases, the police will often keep the offenders for awhile until they're sober enough to leave with a promise to appear in court. However, expect to post bail in cases where there's a felony or serious misdemeanor involved.

In a minor case, the bail bond agent may recommend that you not post bail. If the student is likely to be released quickly anyway, a bail bond is a waste of money. That's a good reason to find a local and reputable bail bondsman who understands the policies and procedures of area jails. They can't give you legal advice, but they can help you navigate through the jail system. And remember, neither a bail bond nor a "release on own recognizance" means that someone is cleared of all charges. The legal process is just beginning. The student will probably still be required to appear in court, may need an attorney, could still stand trial, and may have to pay a fine, perform community service, take classes, or even serve jail time.