A bail bond is a legal contract between a defendant and a bail bond agent. The agent posts a bond with the court that allows the defendant to be released from jail while awaiting trial. The defendant pays a non-refundable fee, typically 10% of the total bail amount, to the agent as collateral. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the agent may be required to pay the full bail amount.

The bail bond process can take anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on the circumstances. Factors that can affect the timeline include the size of the bail amount, the defendant's criminal history, and the availability of the court.

If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail bond agent may be required to pay the full bail amount to the court. The agent will then take steps to locate and apprehend the defendant to prevent the forfeiture of the bond.