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The individual whom has committed a crime, must inevitably go through several different legal procedures. That individual may have the opportunity to pay a bail and be free until the matter is up in court. This guide describes the primary aspects of bail, its types, and how this process works.

If a person is arrested for a crime, they can be released if they pay a specific amount of money to the court until the criminal procedures are over. This process is known as ‘bail.’

The main goal of bail is to allow the person to remain free until they are convicted of a crime. In other words, the sum of money compels the person to show up, guaranteeing their presence.

If the convicted person goes to the court hearings and the case finishes, then they can recover the money. Instead, if the person does not go, then they lose it.

Depending on the case, there are different types of bail you might have to pay. The following are the most common ones: release on own recognizance, property bond, release on a citation, surety bond, and cash bail.

Release on Own Recognizance

With this type of bail, the court releases the person without bail as long as they show up in court and participate in all procedures. This usually occurs in less serious crimes.

Property Bond

The person (known as bailee) can put an asset or property they own as payment for their bail. If they don’t show up in court, then the property may be foreclosed.

Release on Citation

In this case, you may not necessarily have to deal with a criminal conviction, but authorities still ask you to appear in court and participate in all the procedures.

Surety Bond

Surety bonds allow the bailee to work with a bondsman, who’s the person responsible to pay for bail in case the convicted person fails to show up in court.

Cash Bail

This is the most common and best-known type of bail, and it simply consists of a specific sum that the person can pay in cash (credit or debit card, check, or hard cash).

If you commit a crime or the authorities think you did, they have to arrest you for it. After that, you need to go to the police station to fill in the paperwork and proceed with further investigations.

In most cases, authorities need to collect your fingerprints, do a background check, take mugshots, and so on. While the police handle your case, you might remain incarcerated.

If the crime you committed was not serious, the authorities might release you and give you your bail options. However, if the situation is more complicated, they might put you in jail until the time of the court hearing.

Regardless of whether you committed a minor crime or a more serious one, court procedures are always challenging, and you need an expert by your side.

A knowledgeable lawyer can passionately defend your case and explain all the details of how your bail works. Thus, call FKM Law Group today, and hire an expert attorney!