After an arrest in Pennsylvania, a criminal defendant is taken before a Magisterial District Judge (MDJ) who sets the bail amount. If the defendant pays the bail amount or uses a bail bond service, he or she will be released from jail while awaiting further developments in the case.
You can withdrawl your agreement by calling the bondsman and telling them that you no longer want to be on the bond as you feel the ``criminal'' will not show up to court. You can sign off of the bail but they may arrest your friend.
Most bond agreements include travel restrictions, confining you to a specific geographic area such as your county or state. These limitations are designed to ensure your availability for court dates. If travel is necessary, you must seek prior approval from the court or your bail bondsman.
Common Bond Conditions: The Essentials to Know Mandatory Court Appearances. One of the primary conditions of being out on bond is attending all scheduled court appearances. Travel Restrictions. Maintaining a Law-Abiding Lifestyle. No Contact with Certain Individuals. Compliance with Substance Abuse Testing.
Most bail bond companies also adhere to this age requirement. They require that a co-signer or the person posting bail be at least 18 years old. This ensures that all legal contracts signed with the bail bond agency are enforceable.
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, bail is set in almost all cases, including misdemeanors and felonies, except murder cases punishable with a life sentence or the death penalty. Also, a court may deny bail if that is the only possible way to make sure the defendant appears in court.
The age you need to be in order to bail someone out of jail is 18, although a lot of bail bonds companies might require that you be 21 or over. The reason for this is that in the U.S., no minor can enter into any legal contract.