Maine Laws Regarding Bail Bonds & Bounty Hunters
Below is basic information on bail bond laws for Maine concerning Bail Enforcement, Bounty Hunters, Fugitive Apprehension and Bail Bondsman. This is not legal advice. Laws change frequently, please check the links provided for possible updates and current information.
- Bail bond law state statutes:
- Maine Revised Statutes (MRS) Annotated Title 15. Court Procedure—criminal Part 2. Proceedings Before Trial Chapter 105-a. ME Bail Code Subchapter V. Enforcement Article 1. General Provisions § 1094. Forfeiture Of Bail; Enforcement
ME Rule Of Criminal Procedure, Rule 46. Certain Procedural Provisions Governing Bail (f) Forfeiture.
- Licensing requirements for Bail agents:
- Currently, Maine does not have provisions regarding the licensing of bail bond recovery or bail enforcement agents. The closest equivalent in the Maine statutes are the provisions for “sureties.”
- Preconviction. Each surety for a defendant admitted to pre-conviction bail is responsible for the appearance of the defendant at all times as well as the defendant’s compliance with each condition of release, including that the defendant refrain from new criminal conduct, until a verdict or finding or plea of guilty or until the acceptance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, unless the surety has sooner terminated the agreement to act as surety and has been relieved of the responsibility in accordance with section 1073. A pre-conviction surety is not responsible for the appearance of a defendant after conviction nor for the defendant’s compliance with the conditions of release, unless the surety has agreed to act as postconviction surety.
- Post-conviction. Each surety for a defendant admitted to bail after conviction is responsible for the defendant’s appearance at all times until the defendant enters into execution of any sentence of imprisonment as well as the defendant’s compliance with each condition of release, including that the defendant refrain from new criminal conduct, unless the surety has sooner terminated the agreement to act as surety and has been relieved of the responsibility in accordance with section 1073.
MRS Annotated Title 4. Judiciary Chapter 23. Miscellaneous Provisions § 1054. Surety bonds authorized in civil and criminal cases
- In any civil or criminal action or other process where a bail bond, recognizance or personal sureties or other obligation is required, or whenever any person is arrested and is required or permitted to recognize with sureties for his appearance in court, the court official or other authority authorized by law to accept and approve the same shall accept and approve in lieu thereof, when offered, a good and sufficient surety bond duly executed by a surety company authorized to do business in this State.
MRS Annotated Title 15. Court Procedure—criminal Part 2. Proceedings Before Trial Chapter 105-a. Maine Bail Code Subchapter Iv. Sureties And Other Forms Of Bail § 1072. Responsibility of sureties
(See also) MRS Annotated Title 15. Court Procedure–criminal Part 2. Proceedings Before Trial Chapter 105-a. ME Bail Code Subchapter Iv. Sureties And Other Forms Of Bail § 1071. Sureties To Make Statement Of Property
- Bail agent’s arrest authority.
- MRS Annotated Title 15. Court Procedure—criminal Part 1. Criminal Procedure Generally Chapter 11. Security To Keep The Peace § 290. Sureties may surrender principals; new recognizances
- Any surety in a recognizance taken under this chapter may surrender the principal the same as bail in civil cases, and he shall thereupon be discharged from liability for any subsequent breach of the recognizance. The principal may recognize anew with sufficient sureties for the residue of the term before a judge, and then be discharged.
- Bounty hunter (fugitive apprehension) provisions:
- Currently, Maine does not have provisions regarding bounty hunters.
- Links to State and Local Authorities:
Please check with the Maine’s Department of Insurance, Licensing Board and/or Local Law Enforcement for the most recent updates. If you know of any updates to Maine’s bail bond laws, please provide as much detail as possible and send to us using our contact form.
