How to Make bail / Posting bail / Bail Bondsman

Bail involves your promise to the court to appear for trial if you are freed. This article explains what it means to make bail after being arrested.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. You do not have an automatic right to bail. The U.S. Constitution requires only that if a court sets bail, it cannot do so in such a large amount that is the same as not setting bail at all. State and federal laws provide for bail for most crimes. When making a plea to charges against you, the judge may release you without bail "on your own recognizance" if the judge is satisfied that you will not run away.
2. Keeping a steady job, living in the same place a long time, and having good family relationships will usually satisfy a judge that you will return for trial. If you have no family, no job, just recently moved, or have a criminal background, you might have to post bail. If bail is set at $5,000, for example, you must pay $5,000 in cash to the appointed officer.
3. If you are short on cash, a bail bondsman will provide the money for a fee(usually 10 percent of the bail). The bondsman will require collateral (things of value that can be sold) or promises by you or your family to pay if you fail to appear for trial. Once you make bail, the court sends your jailer a receipt, or bail ticket. You receive an appearance notice with the time and place of your trial.You are then free to go, but if you are arrested before your trial on other charges your bail can be revoked.
4. When you appear for trial, any cash or collateral posted is returned. If you jump bail, the judge will issue a warrant for your arrest on the new charge of bail jumping, and you lose any money or collateral posted.