<p>If you watch the news, you’ve probably heard of the term “bail” before.</p>
<p>Often, when a defendant is accused of a crime, someone says that it is “set” at a certain amount, or that it was paid.</p>
<p>However, for how often we hear this term, not many of us know exactly what it means.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-Correct-Size wp-image-2964" alt="Bail Bonds" src="https://medusamagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Bail-Bonds-640x480.jpeg" width="640" height="480" /></p>
<p>Here are four commonly asked questions about the topic.</p>
<h2><strong>1) What is “Bail”?</strong></h2>
<p>This is an amount of money that must be paid in order to release someone from jail who has been accused of a crime.</p>
<p>The court sets the sum and it must be paid in order for the person who was accused to go free.</p>
<p>Although if this amount is “posted” (otherwise known as paid for) the defendant is allowed to leave incarceration,</p>
<p>this doesn’t mean that he can get out of trouble completely – it only means that he can go about his business until his court date, which he must attend.</p>
<p>This can be vitally important for defendants, as it means they have time to spend with their families and prepare for their cases to go before a judge,</p>
<p>rather than staying in jail when they have not been found guilty of any crime.</p>
<h2><strong> 2) Why Is It So Costly to Pay For?</strong></h2>
<p>Although the total cost varies widely depending on certain factors, there are times when bail can be extremely cost prohibitive.</p>
<p>It is not uncommon for this quantity to total about $20,000 in west coast states like California, although it can be upwards of $50,000 or more!</p>
<h2><strong> 3) How is the Amount Determined?</strong></h2>
<p>The quantity depends largely on the crime and related factors. After an arrest, the court determines how much to charge.</p>
<p>This can take only a few hours, but might sometimes be a longer process.</p>
<p>Typically, judges use an official schedule that is issued each year to determine how much to charge based on the crime.</p>
<p>Another factor that may be considered is the history of the defendant. If he or she has a criminal history, more money may be requested than is typical.</p>
<p>Likewise, the risk of keeping the individual on the streets (rather than locked up) as well as how likely he or she is to hurt others and/or skip the court date are taken into consideration.</p>
<h2><strong> 4) How Do People Pay for It?</strong></h2>
<p>There are a few different ways this can happen. You can simply pay the court in cash or with a cashier’s check.</p>
<p>Or, you can use what is referred to as “real property” as collateral if you don’t have all/some of the amount required.</p>
<p>Typically, a home or other real estate is used, and this process can take one or two months.</p>
<p>Finally, there is the surety bond. This requires teaming up with a bail bondsman.</p>
<p>Typically, these types of businesses will have you pay 10 percent of the fee and they will take care of the rest.</p>
<p>In this case, and in all cases when it comes to bail, you must ensure the accused attends his/her court date.</p>
<p><em>Jackson’s son was accused of a crime and required to post bail his family could not afford. </em></p>
<p><em>When they found out about resources like Expert Bail, they were relieved. Jackson hopes this information and advice will prove helpful to others.</em></p>

Bail Bonds – 4 Commonly Asked Questions
