When someone’s arrested and charged with a crime, there’s usually a lag – often months, sometimes longer – before his case goes to trial. Not everyone arrested has to sit in jail until it’s time for trial, though.
In many cases, there’s a process allowing the person arrested (the accused) to be released from jail in exchange for money (called bail), a pledge of property, or a personal promise to return to court for all necessary hearings. If the accused makes all scheduled court hearings, bail is refunded to him when the trial’s over. He gets a refund whether he’s found innocent or guilty.
If he misses a court date, however, the bail or property may be forfeited – the court keeps it. In most cases, warrant is issued for his arrest.
Bail is usually set at an amount that presumably is large enough to convince the accused to return to the court. The specific amount of bail varies depending on where the trial takes place (the jurisdiction) and the judge. It’s also influenced by a number of factors such as the:
- Seriousness of the crime
- Accused’s criminal record
- Likelihood the accused will leave or flee the area to avoid trial
- Accused’s financial resources
So, it’s not uncommon for two people charged with the same crime to pay different bail amounts.
The Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution bars excessive bail and fines. Over the years, lawmakers and courts have come up with rules about bail, who may get it, and how much may be required.
Generally, someone may be held in jail without bail if:
- The judge thinks he’s a danger to the community
- There’s a chance he might flee to avoid trial
- He’s charged with a serious or violent crime
- He’s charged with a crime punishable by life in prison or death
- He’s charged with certain drug-related crimes and faces more than 10 years in prison if found guilty
- There’s reason to believe the accused might attempt to obstruct justice (hide or destroy evidence, for instance), or tamper with witnesses
- He’s a repeat felony offender
As a practical matter, a judge may also set an extraordinarily high bail – one most people can’t afford – as a way of keeping someone in jail until it’s time for trial.
Release on One’s Own Recognizance
In some cases, especially for minor crimes, a judge may agree to release the accused without requiring the payment of money or posting of personal property. This is called being released on one’s own recognizance, also known as R.O.R. or O.R. It means the judge thinks the accused has a good reputation and can be trusted to return to court for trial without the financial “motivation” of bail.
Before agreeing to R.O.R., a judge usually looks at a number of factors, such as:
- The severity of the crime
- The accused’s ties to the community, such as family or a job
- The accused’s personal reputation
- Whether the accused can afford bail
- Whether it’s beneficial for the accused to return to his family, friends and job
Many people can’t afford bail, or don’t have easy access to large sums of money. In these cases, people often turn to a bail bondsman. A bail bond is a contract between three parties:
- The surety – the bail bondsman
- The obligee, that’s the court, and
- The principal – the accused
With a bail bond, the bondsman promises to pay the full bail amount to the court if the accused doesn’t live up to the terms of release, like show up in court for a hearing or the trial.
There’s also a separate contract between the bondsman and the indemnitor. She’s the accused’s friend or family member who promises to pay the bond if the accused doesn’t do what he’s supposed to and the bondsman has to pay the court. Also, she’s usually responsible for paying any costs the bondsman may have if he has to track down the accused and bring him to court.
In exchange for posting a bond, the bail bondsman charges a non-refundable fee. Usually it’s 10 percent of the amount of bail. By using a bondsman, the accused gets out of jail for much less than the full bail amount – the 10 percent fee. But, the downside is the fee is non-refundable.
Before agreeing to be an indemnitor on a bail bond for a friend or family member, make sure you carefully read the contract and understand what you’re agreeing to. It’s your legal responsibility to make sure the accused shows up in court. And, it’s your job to help the bondsman find the accused if he doesn’t show up.
If you believe that the accused is irresponsible and may miss court dates or flee the area, don’t sign the bail bond contract.