How Bail Works

The people who end up going to jail because of some form of trespass against the law
may employ bail bonds so that they can get released. The people who offer this kind of service
are known as bondsmen or bail bond agents. These people are often capable of securing the
criminal defendant’s freedom usually within a few hours’ time. Simply put, bail is like a get out
of jail card, except it isn’t for free.

Other financial institutions like an insurance company or a bank may act as a surety for
bail. However, these institutions are usually more than hesitant to use funds and resources for
such a risky endeavor. Below are some more information regarding how bail works.

Determining the bail

The courts are the ones responsible for making a decision on how much bail a person
must pay for in order to leave jail. The court takes into account numerous considerations when
thinking about setting the amount for bail.

For minor criminal cases courts often employ the use of what is referred to as the bail
schedule. Basically, the bail schedule is a list that composed of an inventory of several crimes
and a corresponding amount for bail for each crime.

Despite being a long list, not all criminal offenses are covered by the bail schedule. In the
event that an accused’s criminal offense is not on the list, a judge may determine the amount of
bail that must be paid to secure the accused’s release from jail.

Certain lawyers are also familiar with the amount of bail given for each crime. For
example, a man who is detained by the state for driving under the influence may consult with a
DUI lawyer regarding his bail.

The two ways of posting bail

There are basically two ways a person can post bail. If the person can afford it, then they
can simply pay for the bail and secure their release for themselves. The accused may also ask
assistance from family or friends to post bail.

The other alternative is to employ the services of a bail bonds agent. These agencies
offer their services in exchange for some form of collateral. Aside from the collateral, the person
who avails of the bail bond agency’s services is required to pay them a certain fee. This fee is
usually equivalent to ten percent of the amount paid by the bail bonds agency to post bail.