Without much knowledge of the legal system, it might feel impossible to know what your bail amount will be. There is a system used by judges to determine whether or not a defendant is eligible for bail, as well as setting their bail price. Here are the things judges take into account when deciding on bail amounts.
Your Criminal Record
If you have a record of criminal activity, your bail amount is going to be higher than a defendant with no criminal record accused of the same crime. Criminal record is often used by judges to predict future activity, and a judge is less likely to give you an affordable bail amount if they think you’re going to commit more crimes when you’re released. In addition, you can be denied bail if you have another ongoing case, or if you’re currently on parole. Committing a crime while you’re already on bail or parole is a breach of the agreement you made when you paid the bail, and judges aren’t likely to give you another chance.
The Nature of the Charge
One of the biggest bail amount indicators is the nature of the crime you’ve been accused of. Depending on the severity of your charge, the judge is capable of setting your bail to a price you can’t afford. If you’ve been accused of a particularly heinous felony, like murder, you’re very likely to be denied the chance of bail. Felony bail bonds do exist, but the process of getting one is a bit different than other bail bonds.
Flight Risk
You can be denied bail if the judge thinks you’re at risk of missing court dates or fleeing the country after being released. If you’ve ever done or attempted to do either of these things, you’re more than likely to be denied bail. If you’re not a US citizen, it’s impossible to be granted bail. In fact, committing a crime as a non-citizen in America can end with you being deported back to your native country.
Risk of Interference With the Case
Court trials need to be as fair and balanced as possible, for the benefit of both the prosecution and the defense. You can be denied bail if the judge thinks there’s a possibility, or if the judge has strong evidence, that you’ll interfere with any witnesses on the prosecution. Interference can mean threatening a witness, causing physical harm to a witness, or trying to convince a witness to settle the case out of court. Cases of capital murder and sexual assault are almost always denied bail for this reason.
24/7 Bail Bonds With A-EZ Out
If you or a loved one has been arrested, A-EZ Out can help. We’re available 24/7 to post bail anywhere in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, and Collin County. Our experienced bail bondsmen are dedicated to getting you out of jail and back to your life as soon as possible after an arrest. Call or visit our website to get in touch with a talented bail bondsman today!