“Ah, excuse me? The judge set the bail for what? How is anybody supposed to pay that? We’re not rich!”
Anyone who has had the task of appearing in front of a judge for a bail hearing, or those who may have watched a fictional depiction on television, knows that bail amounts are ridiculously high. Some bail amounts are even high enough to buy an expensive sports car, a middle class home, or more.
Why is bail so expensive? How are you supposed to pay bail that costs thousands of dollars? What does the court do with this money?
How Judges Determine Bail Amounts
Judges determine the price for bail on a number of factors including the severity of the crime. So if bail is set for $1 million, then there’s a good chance the defendant is on trial for a serious crime.
Also, if the defendant is a flight risk (the court is worried they will leave the country), bail is set higher. If he or she has a prior criminal record, or is considered a dangerous individual, bail amount is typically set higher as well.
Highest Bail Amount in U.S. History
The highest bail amount in United States history was set at $100 million for Raj Rajaratnam, who was on trial in 2009 for a $20 million insider trading scheme. His friends and colleagues helped him post bail and he was released. He was later convicted and is currently serving an 11-year prison term.
Bail is an Incentive
Bail is refundable at the end of the trial, but in order for the defendant or whoever is financially responsible for the defendant to get his or her money back, the defendant must appear at all court appointments and not commit any other crimes. If he or she misses or gets in trouble, the defendant or whoever is responsible could lose thousands of dollars.
Since there is so much at stake, the court sets the price high. If bail is set at $1 million, for example, the defendant is much more likely to appear at all court dates and meet all requirements.
A Bail Bondsman is Here to Help
Very few people can come up with thousands of dollars in a timely manner. That’s why bail bonds exist and why bail bondsmen are here to help. If you need to post bail in Michigan, Ohio, or Indiana, we are available 24 hours a day to help you. Give us a call at 313-224-0669 or 855-313-BAIL (2245).
Tags: Bail Bond Amounts