A bail bondsman is a professional who provides a financial service to individuals who have been arrested and need to secure their release from jail. When someone is arrested, a judge sets a bail amount that must be paid for the person to be released until their court date. If the individual cannot afford the full bail amount, they can seek help from a bail bondsman. The bail bondsman typically charges a fee, usually a percentage of the total bail amount, in exchange for posting the bail. If the person fails to appear in court, the bail bondsman may be responsible for paying the full bail amount and can take steps to locate the individual, which may involve hiring a bounty hunter.