Whenever a person is arrested, their first thoughts turn to getting out of jail as quickly as possible. To do this, a person must post bail. Depending on the charges and the circumstances of the arrest, this could be easier said than done.
The amount of bail is determined by the judge, who weighs a number of factors into his or her decision. Most jails have standardized bail amounts for common crimes, so a person can quickly get out of jail by paying the amount of money laid out in the standard bail schedule. For larger or more uncommon crimes, however, the arrested person will likely have to wait for the decision to come down straight from the judge.
There are federal regulations governing bail amounts. The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution strictly forbids excessive bail amounts. Bail should also never be used as a tool to secure funds for the government, or to punish a person suspected of a crime. Instead, the main purpose of bail should be to allow the suspect to remain free until he or she has been convicted, while also ensuring that he or she will return for their set court date. This is why bail amounts for serious crimes are much higher—a person is more likely to flee from serious charges, but less so if they are going to also be on the hook for a huge amount of money by failing to attend their court dates.
Paying bail
If the suspect wishes to post bail but cannot afford the total amount required, he or she can either ask the judge to low it or seek assistance in the form of a bail bond from a bail bondsman in Angleton, TX. In such a case, anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of the total bail amount could be required to secure a bond and their freedom.
Bail payments can be made in any of the following ways:
- Cash or check paid in the full amount of the bail
- Property valued at the full amount of the bail
- Bonds, or guaranteed payments that meet the full amount of the bail
- Waivers of payment on the condition of the defendant appearing in court
Suspects are encouraged to keep in mind that payments for bonds are non-refundable. In other words, while they can be an excellent option to keep one’s freedom if the suspect does not have enough money to pay off the bail in full, suspects should also consider the long-term financial picture, as bail payments are fully refundable if you attend your court date.
The final means of bail payment on the list is what is called release “on one’s own recognizance.” The defendant signs a promise to show up in court and is not required to make a bail payment. This situation usually only arises in cases where the suspect has no criminal record and is not charged with a serious crime.
For more information about paying bail and getting out of jail, contact a bail bondsman in Angleton, TX at Brazoria County Bail Bonds.