When a person lands in jail, their first thought is how to get out as quickly as possible. Posting bail is the fastest way to get out; bail is property, a bond or cash that you give the court to ensure your appearance as required. If you don’t show up, the court keeps your bail and issues a warrant for your arrest.
Setting Bail
It’s the judge’s responsibility to set bail, but most people don’t want to wait for a court appearance. Most jails have bail schedules setting forth amounts for the most common crimes, and arrestees can often get out by paying that amount. If you want to post bail but can’t afford it, you can ask for it to be lowered. In most states, bail requests are made at arraignment hearings.
The 8th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits excessive bail; it cannot be used to punish a person suspected of a crime, and it cannot be used to generate revenue for the government. Bail is set to allow an arrestee to go free until conviction, and it cannot be more than is necessary to secure your appearance in court.
In fact, many judges set bail so high that suspects can’t afford it, thereby keeping them in jail until the case concludes. Preventive detention is believed by many to be a violation of Constitutional law, but the issue has yet to be taken up by the Supreme Court.
Bail Conditions
If you get a Bail bond in Oklahoma City, you will have to comply with release conditions. If you violate one of these rules, your bail may be revoked and you’ll be sent back to jail. Some conditions are common, and others reflect the crime of which you’re accused. For instance, a condition in a domestic violence case may require an arrestee to stay away from the complainant.
Bail Payments
Bail can come in any or a combination of these forms:
- A check or cash for the bail amount
- Property worth the bail amount
- Bonds (a guarantee for payment)
Release on one’s own recognizance (O.R.), or a payment waiver in exchange for a guaranteed appearance in court. People are commonly granted O.R. because of strong community or family ties, stable careers, and lack of a criminal record.
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