When arrested, the court sets a bail amount based on the crime's severity, your criminal history, and your flight risk. If you can't afford bail, you stay in jail until your court date. The duration of jail time varies.
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.
Understanding Bail and Detention Periods Even so, California law prohibits judges from denying bail because you can't afford it. Therefore, judges may release you on your “own recognizance,” which means you take responsibility for attending your trial dates without paying bail.
If you are taken into custody in Utah and can't afford bail, you will be held in jail until your trial date. This period of awaiting trial is known as “remand detention,” and it can last up to a few months.
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).
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.
When a judge announces no bond, the defendant isn't eligible for release from county jail through bail as the judge has not set a bail amount. Instead, the arrested person has to remain in custody until the case concludes or a judge potentially sets bail at a later hearing.
Post-Arrest Jail Time in Utah Once you have been booked, the prosecutor will have 72 hours before deciding whether or not file charges against you. Within 48-72 hours after charges have been filed, you will be taken before a judge for your arraignment and bail hearing.
To answer your question, yes, you can bail yourself out of jail. However, most people choose to be bailed out by a loved one using a bail bond company. Either way, the process is the same, whether you or a loved one chooses to bail yourself out.