In this motion, your attorney will need to present compelling reasons why the current bail amount is excessive. These reasons could include your financial situation, your ties to the community, your lack of criminal history, and the nature of the charges against you.
In criminal law, bail is the process of releasing a defendant from jail or other governmental custody with conditions set to reasonably assure public safety and court appearance.
You will need to draft a motion to set or reduce bond. You will need to request a hearing date and you will need to serve a copy of the motion on the prosecutor. Your girlfriend will need to sign the motion if she does not have an attorney. You may take it to the Clerk of Court and file the motion.
The court will schedule a hearing after a defendant files a motion for a bond reduction. Depending on the court's schedule, it may take several days to a couple of weeks to schedule a hearing to rule on the defendant's bond reduction motion.
The judge determines the amount of bail that must be posted for the defendant's release. The bail amount is influenced by various factors, including the severity of the charges, the defendant's criminal history, ties to the community, employment status, and the potential flight risk.
Why would someone have a million-dollar bond? A court judge may order a bail bond of one million dollars if they deem the defendant has access to sufficient funds to afford bail, thereby allowing them to remain in their area until trial.
For misdemeanors, bail amounts are as low as $1,000 for 2023, with the highest amount at $15,000. However, for felonies, bail amounts start at $20,000 and reach as high as $5 million. Actual bail amounts can be higher or lower than these figures, depending on different factors and the opinion of the judge.
WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT A JUDGE LOOKS AT WHEN DETERMINING BAIL AMOUNT? The defendant's flight risk. The defendant's criminal history. The severity of the alleged crime. The defendant's ties to the community. The defendant's employment status and financial resources. The defendant's mental health and substance abuse history.
If bond is denied, the accused can seek review of this issue by a higher court; however, if bond is denied the accused will remain in custody until the case is finally concluded.