Can You Get Bail Money For Criminal Charges? What To Know When Facing Legal Trouble
When arrested and charged with a crime, most people go to jail and stand before a judge who can determine the bail amount for each individual. Even if you face criminal charges, you may still be eligible for bail, meaning you can bail yourself out of jail for the time being if you post the money requested.
How Will the Judge Determine the Total Cost of Bail?
A judge usually considers a few factors before setting bail for a defendant, including the type of crime they've committed and if they've had trouble with the law in the past. Those considered repeat offenders are likelier to have a higher bail set due to their actions. Your bail could be lower if you're accused of committing a petty crime or don't have much of a criminal past.
Criminal charges can vary tremendously, from something as simple as stealing from a grocery store to something much more severe, such as attempted murder. Because the charges can vary, so will the bail amount. The judge can also deny or revoke bail in some instances.
What Happens When the Bail Amount Is Thousands of Dollars?
When a judge sets bail, and the defendant is expected to pay thousands of dollars, they don't always have the money to cover such a large expense. However, bail bonds are available. If you know you need to pay a certain amount but don't have the funds to do so, you can speak to a bail bond agent. The agent can post the percentage of the bond owed to the court on your behalf, but you must agree to certain stipulations, such as showing up in the courtroom whenever you need to be there.
Does Paying Bail Help Individuals Avoid Prison Time?
Paying bail won't help a defendant avoid prison time. Instead, it allows individuals like yourself to avoid sitting in jail while waiting for a trial. Many criminal cases take months or years to go to trial because of everything involved, such as collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, preparing witnesses to be questioned by an attorney, and more. By posting bail, you wouldn't have to wait in jail until your trial starts. Of course, the only real way to avoid prison is to be found not guilty of the crimes you're accused of committing.
When charged with a crime, a judge will set the bail amount, and you can pay it in cash or with help from a bail bond agent. Most defendants are eligible for bail, even if it is thousands of dollars.
For more info, contact a local company like Caprock Bail Bonds.
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