In a surety bond, who bears liability for the defendant’s appearance?

• A. The defendant
• B. The arresting officer
• C. The licensed bail bond agency or agent
• D. The court

Answer: (C)

In a surety bond, the bail bond agency or licensed agent guarantees the defendant’s appearance in court. They take on the risk that the defendant may skip a hearing, so they post the bond with the court and promise to pay the full bond amount if the defendant fails to appear. To protect themselves, bondsmen typically require collateral and will act to locate and return the defendant so the court isn’t left short on funds. The defendant is the person who must show up, but the liability to the court for non-appearance rests with the bondsman. The arresting officer enforces warrants and the court enforces conditions, but neither assumes the appearance liability the way the surety does.