Posting Bail

Jail is probably one of the last places that I would want to find myself at any given place and time. Whether it was from an honest mistake, DWI charge, or a moment of personal misguidance, the initial reaction is the find the fastest way to get out of jail. Usually, that means you have to post bail.

Bail is a form of payment given to the courts in order to ensure that you show up in court on the day of your trial hearing. When you show up to court on the day that you have been asked to attend, the courts will refund the bail and proceed with the trail. If you do not show up, the court will keep the bail and issue a warrant for your arrest.

The values for bail range from very small to very large. And in principle, while it can't be excessively high, it must also be a form of punishment for the accused. Thus, setting bail is the job of the judge. In the usually process, when you are arrested, it takes about five days to see a judge in order to be considered for bail. For more of the common crimes, some jails have an on-hand schedule of bails associated with the specific offenses.

Sometimes, the judge sets and extremely high bail, that is almost impossible to pay. This is commonly referred to as "preventative detention." The purpose of this kind of bail setting is to prevent the offender from running, especially for particularly serious crimes.

If you or some you know if currently in jail and needs help, feel free to call the Austin jail release attorneys Ian Inglis at 512-472-1950.