What Is A Bail Hearing?

f you have been arrested by police for a crime, you may have to spend some time in jail. You can be released under one circumstance: if you pay bail. By paying the bail, you promise to show up to court for all appearances.

The amount you will be ordered to pay will be decided at a bail hearing. You can pay for the bail yourself or have an adult or professional bail bondsman do it on your behalf. Bail can be posted through cash bail or property bail. This means you can use cash or property, such as a home or land, as long as there is equity in the property.

What to Expect

Once you are arrested, a bail hearing will be held within 24 hours to determine if the bail is appropriate, if you should be released on your own recognizance, or if you should be incarcerated. If you have an attorney, they will have reviewed the documents with you and discussed what they plan to do.

What Factors Are Involved?

At the hearing, your bail amount will be set. It is based on various factors such as the following:

• The type of crime
• Prior criminal record
• Your employment status
• Your connection to the community, such as how long you have been in the area and any family in the area
• Safety concerns
• Financial considerations
• Recommendations from your lawyer

What Happens Next?

If you meet the requirements for bail, and you post the bail, you will be released from jail until the trial. If you do not have the money to post bail, you may opt to use a bail bondsman. A bail bondsman can offer you a bond, which serves as a sort of personal loan. However, you will have to put down a percentage of the loan and possibly collateral as well, such as a car, jewelry, or other item of value. For example, for a $20,000 bail amount, you may be asked to fork over several thousand dollars. The bail bondsman would then give you the full amount of bail.

When you show up to court and your trial is over, the court refunds you your bail money, which you would then return to the bail bondsman. Keep in mind that bail bondsmen also charge hefty fees on top of the deposit, and could range from 10-30% of the bail amount.

If you cannot post bail, then you will have to stay in jail until your trial. This could be a month or longer.

Contact a Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Paying bail allows you to get out of jail before your trial. Your lawyer can help you understand what to expect.

Your future is at stake. Seek legal help from the Columbia bail hearings lawyers at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. We can help you get the best possible outcome. To schedule a consultation, call (410) 774-5987 or fill out the online form. We have two offices to serve you.

Resource:

justice.gov/usao/justice-101/initial-hearing