When you are arrested, one of the first major court dates you will have is your appearance before the judge. This appearance includes consideration and judgment regarding bail. You may already be expecting this as part of the criminal justice process. What you may not understand or expect are the considerations the judge may take into account in determining your bail amount. Here are some of those considerations and what you need to know about them.
Charges
One of the top considerations that help determine the bail amount, and ultimately the amount you pay on a bail bond, is your charge. The number of charges, as well as the type of charges, determine the bond amount on a large number of cases and charges. In fact, there are usually set amounts for bail in many counties and states for common charges. Examples of these charges include DUI, DWI, and domestic disputes.
Parole or Probation Status
The judge will likely consider your parole or probation status in determining your bail amount. For example, if your arrest violates the parole or probation judgment against you, then you will likely be denied a new bond amount. Depending on the probation or parole judgment and the specific options relating to your case, you may be automatically set to return to jail to serve time for your violation. Depending on your county or state, you may also face a certain amount of days in county jail with the chance of a lower sentencing time or while you await a court date for the violation and related charges. If you were on parole or probation, but recently served out the time on these judgments, the judge may consider a bond amount for the current charges you are facing.
Severity of Charges
The severity of the charges may be a large consideration for the judge. For example, you may have a DUI as part of your arrest. However, you may also be charged with causing injury or death to another party due to the DUI. The injury or death is a separate charge and much more severe than a stand-alone DUI charge. Where you may be eligible for a bail bond on the DUI, you may not be eligible when the injury or death is figured in.
These are just a few of the considerations a judge may take into account in regard to setting your bail amount. If you have questions regarding the bail amount, your charges, or anything pertaining to your arrest discuss them with your attorney or bail bondsman. Your attorney will help you understand the charges and considerations that led to the bail amount. Your bail bondsman will answer questions concerning the bail bond itself.
Contact a service to learn more about bail bonds.
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