Pennsylvania Bail Guidelines are laws that control the amount of money a person must pay to be released from jail while awaiting trial. Under these guidelines, a judge must determine the amount of bail the defendant must pay, taking into account the defendant’s criminal record, flight risk, and the severity of the alleged offense. The goal of the bail guidelines is to ensure the defendant appears in court and does not pose a risk to the community or public safety. There are three main types of Pennsylvania Bail Guidelines: financial, surety, and recognizance. Financial Bail Guidelines require a defendant to pay a set amount of money to the court. This money is held until the defendant appears in court. Surety Bail Guidelines require the defendant to use a bondsman to post bail. The bondsman will pay the court a set amount of money, usually a percentage of the total bail amount, and the defendant will be released. Lastly, Recognizance Bail Guidelines allow a defendant to be released without paying any money. The defendant must sign an agreement to appear in court when required and may need to provide a form of collateral, such as property or personal items, to secure the release.