How Do Judges Set Bail?
How Do Judges Set Bail?
Judges usually set a bail amount at the suspect’s first court appearance after their arrest. This first court appearance is usually a bail hearing or an arraignment.
Judges normally adhere to standard practices for different levels of crimes, but they can raise or lower the standard bail or grant release on the defendant’s own recognizance based on the circumstances.
The judge will set bail based on a number of factors. This includes:
– The seriousness of the crime
– The defendant’s past criminal record
– Whether the defendant is employed
– Whether the defendant has close ties to family and the community
In some places, courts use an algorithm that takes various factors into account to determine how likely a defendant is to commit another crime or fail to appear in court.
Once the judge has looked at all of the contributing factors and determined bail, there are multiple ways to proceed.
Some people choose to pay the entirety of the bail amount.
For many people, this is not an option. If that’s the case, then you can turn to a bail bondsman.
If your friend or loved one has been arrested in South Central Louisiana, contact Mud Bug Bail Bonds to get started on the bail bonds process. At Mud Bug Bail Bonds, we provide cash bonds, commercial bonds, property bonds, and personal surety bonds. Please call us at (337)466-3533 for more information about the types of bonds that we provide.