To better understand how bail bonds work in Arkansas, we need to look at the bail options available to you, as well as the process you will go through after your arrest. A person must be processed at the local county jail after being arrested in Arkansas. To be released from jail, several steps must occur, including being 'booked in' and posting bail. When the bail bond amount is decided, a bail bonds agent can be called to post the bail bond at the local jail. Using the service of a bail bondsman typically requires collateral and someone to co-sign on the bail bond. Besides using a bail bondsman, you should know all bail options that exist in Arkansas in order to be released from jail. Bail bondsmen will fall under surety, or bail bonds, which will cost you a small percentage of the total bail amount. You cannot get this bail bond fee back, no matter if you are guilty or not, or if charges are dropped. It's the cost of using a bail bondsman and the risk they take. To avoid the fee, you have a few other options in Arkansas. You can be released from jail on Own Recognizance (OR) which is typically used on smaller crimes committed where the judge finds you low risk and has strong confidence that you will show up to court. You can also be released from an Arkansas jail by using a Property Bond. You will need personal property or land/home value that's equal or greater than the bail amount. After bail is posted, the release process starts and typically takes anywhere from 1-2 hours to complete. We highly recommend reading of our complete guide on how bail bonds work to learn more about the bail process. If you are attempting to bail someone out from another state, you can talk with your local bondsman - that's the bondman in your county, and not the state where the person is detained.