What Is the Purpose of Bail?

After a person is arrested for an alleged offense, they are held in jail until their court date. In the U.S., defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This means that an innocent person may be kept in custody until their case is resolved.

Bail is a way to prevent innocent people from being kept in jail for months or years (which is how long it may take to conclude some cases). Before the defendant is released from custody, they may be required to attend a bail hearing. During this proceeding, the judge will set a bail amount.

Various factors may be considered when determining how much to set bail for, including:

• The nature of the crime
• The evidence against the defendant
• The defendant’s ties in the community
• The defendant’s criminal history (if any)
• Whether the defendant is currently on probation, parole, or bail

If the judge determines that the defendant is not a flight risk and can be released on bail, they will set an amount. To get out of jail, the defendant (or their friends or loved ones) must pay the amount.

After their release, the defendant is required to abide by the conditions the judge imposed when setting bail, which includes returning to court for their trial. If they meet all conditions, at the conclusion of their case, whether they are found guilty or not guilty, the bail amount will be returned to them. However, if they don’t show up to court when required, the bail amount will be forfeit.

Why Choose All Ohio Bail Bonds?

Because bail amounts can be high and unexpected, you might not have the funds readily available to have your friend or loved one released from jail. Our Chillicothe bail bonds agent is available any time night or day to discuss your loved one’s circumstances and get started on the bail bond process. We service Ross county and Scioto County Bail Bonds.