North Carolina Bail Bonds Practice Exam

Where can a bondsman surrender the principal after a breach of bond?

1. To the sheriff of the county where the defendant was bonded to appear

2. To the sheriff of the county where the defendant was bonded from

3. To the sheriff of the county where the defendant was held during trial

4. To the sheriff of the county where the bond was initiated

The correct answer is: To the sheriff of the county where the defendant was bonded to appear

A bondsman can surrender the principal after a breach of bond to the sheriff of the county where the defendant was bonded to appear. This is correct because the legal framework for bail bonds stipulates that the bondsman has a responsibility to ensure that the defendant appears in court as required. If the defendant fails to do so, the bondsman can surrender the individual to the appropriate law enforcement authority, which is specifically the sheriff of the county where the court proceedings are held. This choice is based on the understanding that the jurisdiction tied to the bond is directly related to where the legal obligations of the defendant were established. Therefore, whether or not a defendant appears in court affects that specific jurisdiction, making it necessary for any surrender actions to take place there. By surrendering the principal to the sheriff in this location, the bondsman is respecting legal protocols and ensuring that the bond's conditions are honored. In contrast, surrendering the defendant to different sheriffs as suggested in other choices does not align with the legal requirements, as it would not properly address the issue of a breach of bond in the context of the relevant court's jurisdiction. This clarifies the importance of following established procedures in bail bond practices.