For example, this Los Angeles County Felony Bail Schedule recommends bail of $50,000 for campaign violations, and $100,000 for kidnapping. A judge can decide not to allow the defendant to be released on bail if the defendant is a flight risk (not likely to return to court for trial), or a danger to the community. [4] X Research source Defendants are less likely to be considered a flight risk when they have family and community ties to the area, employment, minimal criminal history, or a record of appearing as required in the past. [5] X Research source
Posting bail for profit is prohibited in Oregon, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, and Maine, which makes it illegal for professional bail agents to operate. These states are more likely to allow a defendant or surety to post a percentage of the total bail amount instead of the entire total. [7] X Research source In these states, if you fail to appear in court when required to do so, you will be arrested by the police or the sheriff’s department as opposed to being seized by a bounty hunter.
Cash bonds requiring that the entire bail amount be posted up front are more stringent than percentage bonds, which only require a percentage of the bail amount. The full amount is typically required where the defendant is a flight risk, has outstanding unpaid fines, or has failed to return to court before. Percentage bonds are common in states where professional bail agents cannot operate.
Bail bondsmen are rarely used in federal court, and for low income defendants, there is usually no cash component to your federal bail. [20] X Research source In federal court, you are basically entering into a contract between yourself, any co-signers, and the government. [21] X Research source If you do not show up, you will have breached the contract and consequences will follow. [22] X Research source Your co-signer is a financially stable and trustworthy individual who will become responsible for your release. [23] X Research source If you do not show up for court, your co-signer may become financially responsible for your failure to appear. [24] X Research source
Pretrial supervision; Drug testing; Mental health evaluations; Travel restrictions; Surrender of travel documents (e. g. , passports); Electronic monitoring; and Curfews. [26] X Research source
