How Is Bail Amount Determined?
Having to post bail is always difficult. It’s an unexpected financial burden, and bail amounts can get incredibly steep. While there are ways to get help posting bail, it’s normal to wonder why the prices are so high. The fact is, this is by design. The court wants bail high enough that the defendant or sponsor can’t afford to lose that money forever. That’s the core of the incentive structure, but there is more to setting bail than hurting wallets. There are several major factors that go into calculating a bail amount. Ultimately, the amount is up to the judge, but these are the factors they tend to weigh the most heavily.
Risk of Flight
The purpose of bail is to incentivize the defendant to appear in court as scheduled. The entire idea is that the bail amount is refunded when court dates are met, so it’s a strong financial reason to play by the rules.
Because of this, the court’s assessment of flight risk is the primary determiner when setting a bail amount. In general, more serious charges suggest a greater flight risk. Someone is less likely to run from a littering fine than a murder charge, so the severity of crime and flight risk are linked.
Criminal Record
A criminal record is going to increase bail amounts. The rules aren’t exactly set in stone, but a judge is going to view a criminal record unfavorably. The longer and more severe the record, the higher the bail is likely to be. Part of this is due to three-strike rules and similar mandatory minimum punishments. A criminal record automatically raises the severity of criminal punishment, which raises flight risk.
Algorithms
Bail is often calculated by an algorithm. A judge can overrule the algorithm if they discern special circumstances, but in most cases, the computer model is accepted.
In addition to calculating the above concepts, algorithms will consider age, work history, and community involvement. To put it loosely, the courts want people who can work to continue working. It’s not an ironclad rule, but bail is not truly intended to be a punishment. That only comes after a conviction.
As you can see, calculating bail can be quite complicated. It’s hard to ever know what the amount will be until a ruling is finalized, which is why many people need a reliable way to get help with the funds when the need arises unexpectedly. Freedom Bail Bonds can provide the help that you need when you need it most.
