What Is the Purpose of Bail?

Bail is an amount of money a defendant pays to secure release from jail while they await their trial. In the U.S., any person accused of a crime has the right to confront their accuser and to a speedy and public trial.

Bail serves to ensure that these constitutional rights are protected and that the defendant answers for the alleged crime. It does this by acting as a surety that the defendant will appear in court when required. If they go to all court appearances, their bail money will be returned to them. If they don’t, the court keeps the bail amount the defendant paid.

How Much Is Bail?

The amount of bail depends on the specifics of the case. It is set by a judge who weighs many factors in making their determination.

The judge will ask several questions to decide how much to set bail at, including:

• How serious is the offense? More severe crimes usually result in higher bail.
• Has the defendant been convicted before? Individuals with a criminal history may be looking at paying more for release from jail.
• Is the defendant a flight risk? If evidence suggests that the defendant will leave town before their case concludes, the judge may set a higher bail (or they may deny bail altogether).
• Does the defendant pose a safety risk to society? If it appears that the defendant will endanger the health and lives of others, bail could be higher or denied.

Defendants have a right to be free from excessive bail. Additionally, a judge can only set bail at an amount reasonably necessary to ensure the defendant’s return to court. However, that does not mean that the defendant or their friends or family members will have the money on hand to pay what is necessary to secure release from jail.

What options are available when bail is more than the defendant can afford? One option is to remain in jail until the case concludes. Unfortunately, this can make it difficult for the defendant to build their defense and fight their charge. It may also strain relationships, as the defendant will have limited access to their loved ones.

The second option is to hire a bail bonds company like ALL Ohio Bail Bonds. Our agency works diligently to post bond and help get individuals out of jail while awaiting trial. For a 10% premium, we complete the required paperwork and make the necessary contacts to help those accused of crimes through this difficult time.

Are There Conditions of Bail?

When a defendant is released on bail, they will be subject to certain court-imposed restrictions. These limitations are referred to as conditions of bail, and they vary for each case.

Some common conditions of bail include:

• House arrest or electronic monitoring
• Supervision by a designated agency
• Residency and travel restrictions
• Drug or alcohol treatment
• No contact with the alleged victim

If a person violates the conditions, they can be sent back to jail without bail (or with a higher bail amount). In some cases, they may face additional criminal charges.

Call Our Summit County Bail Bondsman

Summit County Bail Bondsman, our bail bondsman in Summit County are proud to offer compassionate and skilled guidance throughout the process. We are available 24/7 to answer your questions and help you understand the steps necessary to get your loved one out on bail.