The Pennsylvania Assignment of Bail is a process in which an accused person is released from jail with the help of a bail bondsman or other approved surety. The accused can then pay a predetermined amount of money (bail) to a court as a guarantee that they will appear for all court hearings and fulfill all other conditions of the bail agreement. The Assignment of Bail is typically requested by the accused, or their legal representative, and must be approved by a judge. There are two types of Pennsylvania Assignment of Bail: a cash bond and a surety bond. A cash bond is when the full amount of the bail is paid in cash. A surety bond is when a surety company, such as a bail bondsman, is contracted to arrange for the accused's release from jail. The surety company puts up the full amount of the bail and only charges a fee for the service. The accused must then pay the surety company the full amount of the bail plus the fee before being released from jail.