Do I get the bail money back? If the charges are dismissed?

If it was posted to the Court through cash, you would get your bond money back. However, normally not through a bail bonds man. It has been 10 years since I have dealt with this issue. However, I was a County Court Judge from 1995-2002 in Cortez, CO and we would have that situation come up once in awhile when bond was just RECENTLY posted through a bondsman and charges were dropped. There WAS (I am not sure if it still exists) a portion of the bondsman statute that did allow a person to apply to the county judge for relief to get at least a portion of that bond amount back. However, as I have said, it has been years and I am not positive it is still in the books. If the bond was only $500, you would have given the bondsman $50-$75 along with collateral. I think trying to get a portion of that back would be more trouble than it is worth, even if that statute still exists. Sorry

Mr. Leroi refers to a statute that allows you to petition the court for a return of some of your dolalrs and yes, that statute does still exist! In fact, I recently used it in an Arapahoe County Case. Move quickly to ask for your money as the more time that goes by, the less you will receive. The statute that matters is C.R.S. §16-4-108(1.5) and reads, in pertinent part, as follows: If, within ten working days after the posting of a bond by a defendant, the terms and conditions of said bond are changed or altered either by order of court or upon motion of the district attorney or the defendant, the court, after a hearing, may order a compensated surety to refund a portion of the premium paid by the defendant, if necessary, to prevent unjust enrichment. Best of luck!!

If you paid the full amount of the bond then it will be returned to you at the end of the case (dismissed or not). However, if you simply paid a fee to a bondsman and the bondsman put up the money, you will not get a refund. The fee is what the bondsman charges for using his money to post your bond.