The court decides if the defendant can be set free on bail or not. If yes, it announces how much amount he needs to pay. However, it is crucial to note that the courts are not bound to release anyone on bail. If state law permits, the court can revoke the bail plea. But what is it that can influence the court’s decision of rejecting or accepting a bail appeal? The judges take into account an array of factors before letting go someone on bail. Here is a small brief on this.
A visitor or resident
If you have a business or family located in the area, the court understands that the chances of your not appearing in the court are bleak compared to the one who is just a visitor.
Wealth and earnings
A wealthy man can pay his bond easily, while the one with low income will likely face hardships to clear the amount. At the same time, a court also reckons the dependency of the defendant on his job along with his position to pay the release amount and the impact of an extended stay in jail on his employment.
Risk of fleeing away
A person charged with severe punishment, such as death or extended stay in jail, can try to escape compared to the one with less severe charges.
Family responsibilities
Your bail amount can be lesser if your family depends on you for its welfare.
Nature of crime
How much you will have to pay for your release depends on the severity of a crime. Typically, for small thefts, $1,000 or less is charged. But if the offense is severe, you may have to dish out hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Criminal record
If you have a history of criminal charges or not attending a court hearing in the past, you can expect your bond amount to be higher. The first-timers can get some relief in this regard. Precisely speaking, if you are found guilty of violating bail conditions in the past or not being present in court at the time of the hearing, the court may reject your bail or impose an exorbitant bail sum.
Health and safety risks for others
If releasing a person on bail seems risky for public health and safety, the court may cancel his bail request. For instance, if someone has terrorism charges against him, his bail plea can be rejected to ensure the safety of the community.
After setting the bond amount, the court also chalks specific terms and conditions for the defendant to obey. For example, if the person is involved in substance abuse, he can be asked to stay away from drugs and alcohol. There can be travel restrictions too on the person, which means he cannot go anywhere without taking permission from his pretrial services officer. Other than this, he may have to see his pretrial services officer at regular intervals for monitoring purpose, and he can be barred from keeping firearms.
Getting bail is not easy, and understanding this process needs more in-depth knowledge. If you want to dig deeper into this area or require any professional assistance for a friend or family member, try to get in touch with an Ohio-based bail bond company – Castle Bail Bond.
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