The Factors that Go Into Deciding Your Bail Amount


No one plans to get arrested during a night out on the town. Some events just happen when you least expect them. Perhaps you had a momentary lapse of judgment, or maybe you just happened to be at the scene and ended up as collateral. Whatever reason, you or a loved one have found yourself inside a jail cell, and you don’t particularly enjoy staying where you are.

The Factors that Go Into Deciding Your Bail Amount

When you need to bail out of jail fast, call ASAP Bail Bonds.

When you first find yourself behind bars, you won’t be able to immediately get bailed out of jail. You’ll have to wait until after the bail hearing. At the hearing, the judge will look through all of the available information to set your bail amount. But, what factors does the judge use to determine the amount?

The Factors that Go Into Deciding Your Bail Amount

First off, what is the point of bail? Bail is a payment you make to a court to secure your release from custody until your trial date. The purpose of bail is to ensure that you actually show up for your court date. If you fail to appear, you may forfeit the bail and be subject to arrest.

There are several factors that go into determining a bail amount. Some of these include the severity of the crime, your criminal history, risk of flight, and the danger you may be to the community.

The Severity of the Crime – This is one of the primary factors that the judge uses to can affect the bail amount. If the crime is considered serious, then the bail amount will be set higher to ensure that the defendant appears for their court date. If the crime isn’t too serious, then the bail amount will be lower.

Criminal History – If you have a criminal history, it’s likely that the bail amount will be higher. That’s because you’re considered to be a greater flight risk or are likely to re-offend.

Risk of Flight – The bail amount may also be increased if you’re deemed a flight risk, as it means that you’re more likely to flee the jurisdiction and avoid trial. If the risk of flight is high, the bail amount will be higher in order to ensure better that you’ll appear for your court date. If you don’t appear, you’ll forfeit the bail amount, and the court will issue a warrant for your arrest.

The Factors that Go Into Deciding Your Bail Amount

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Danger to the Community – If you’re considered a danger to the community, the bail amount may be increased to ensure that you don’t pose a risk to public safety. Of course, the opposite is true as well.

Get Out of Jail with Some Help

Sometimes, the odds are stacked against you, and the judge will set the bail amount higher than what you can afford. But, that’s where a bail bonds company like ASAP Bail Bonds can help.

Once your bail amount is set, you or another party can take action to get you out from behind bars. Call the office to learn more about our bail bond services and how our agents can help you post bail. We’re based in Houston and can reach out to the surrounding counties, including Wharton, Fort Bend, Brazoria, and Galveston counties.