The price of securing pretrial launch varies considerably based mostly on a number of components, together with the severity of the alleged offense, the jurisdiction the place the arrest occurred, and a person’s flight danger and felony historical past. For minor offenses, a predetermined schedule may set normal quantities. In additional critical instances, a choose determines the quantity throughout a bail listening to. Securing launch can contain paying the complete quantity on to the courtroom or using a bail bondsman, sometimes for a non-refundable payment of 10-15% of the full. For instance, a $10,000 quantity may require a $1,000-$1,500 cost to a bondsman.
This pretrial launch mechanism serves to stability the presumption of innocence with the necessity to guarantee courtroom appearances. Its historic roots lie in historic authorized methods, evolving over time to deal with issues about equity and entry to justice. Whereas meant to stop extended detention earlier than trial, the monetary side can create disparities, significantly for people with restricted assets. This has led to ongoing debates concerning reform and various approaches.