Final answer:
A surety bondsman, or bail bondsman, is a professional who provides surety bonds for individuals who have been accused of a crime and are awaiting trial. They charge a fee and provide the full bail amount to the court as a guarantee that the accused will appear for their trial. If the accused fails to appear, the bondsman is responsible for paying the full bail amount.
Step-by-step explanation:
A surety bondsman, also known as a bail bondsman, is a professional who provides surety bonds for individuals who have been accused of a crime and are awaiting trial. When a person is arrested, they typically have the option to post bail, which is a payment that allows them to be released from jail until their trial. If the accused cannot afford to pay the full bail amount, they can seek the assistance of a surety bondsman.
The surety bondsman will charge a fee, usually a percentage of the bail amount, and will provide the full bail amount to the court as a guarantee that the accused will appear for their trial. If the accused fails to appear, the bondsman is responsible for paying the full bail amount to the court.
For example, if the bail is set at $10,000, the accused may only need to pay the bondsman $1,000. The bondsman will then provide the remaining $9,000 to the court. If the accused appears for their trial, the bail is returned to the bondsman, and they keep the fee they charged. If the accused fails to appear, the bondsman forfeits the full bail amount.