The defendant can post their own bail or ask a family member or friend to post it. If the defendant uses a bond company, the company may require the defendant to have a co-signer (someone who will help the company find the defendant should they fail to appear).
In some jurisdictions, the court may also allow you to post a property bond, which will use property that you own as collateral for your conditional release. Unfortunately, though, if your bail amount is high, you may not have the resources to post bail with the court on your own.
Yes! In California, bonds can be posted twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week. But whether you can bail someone out of jail at any time depends on their situation. When someone is arrested, they have a first appearance soon after.
Unless a judge sets conditions of release, the person remains in jail for the first 48 hours.
Criminal History: If the person arrested has a record, especially for similar offenses, the judge might set a higher bail. If it's their first time, they could get a lower amount. Flight Risk: Judges look at whether the person is likely to skip town and avoid trial.
Reduction of a Magistrate's Power to Set Bond Prior to the change in law, a magistrate could generally set the bond for serious offenses other than capital cases (first degree murder). The new act drastically reduces a magistrate's ability to set conditions of pretrial release on serious charges.
The Pretrial Integrity Act has changed how pretrial release works in North Carolina. If you're arrested for a serious felony, or if you already have pending charges, a judge must now set your bond. This means you might have to wait longer in custody before you can be released.
Failing to post bond has several consequences: Extended Jail Time: You remain in custody until your court date, ranging from weeks to months. Court Appearances: Regular court appearances are required.