To hear that a loved one is in jail can be difficult news. You may be trying to figure out how to get him or her out. Most defendants do have bail as an option. Here is what you need to know about bail.

What Is Bail?

Bail is the amount of money that the court orders a person to pay to be released from jail. After a person is arrested, he or she may not have a court date for weeks or months. Without bail, those who may be innocent of the crime or those who committed minor crimes may have to wait in jail until the trial begins. When a person pays bail, they receive a refund for the bail once the court case resolves.

How Is Bail Calculated?

Bail can be calculated in a few different ways. In some areas, the jail will have bail schedules that specify the amount of bail for different crimes. In these cases, a defendant could post bail as soon as he or she is booked.

More serious crimes have higher bail amounts. For instance, felonies tend to be five to ten times higher than misdemeanors. If the defendant has to stand before a judge, the judge may consider a few different factors. First, he or she will look at the crime itself. Then, he or she may consider the defendant’s ties to the community and his or her criminal record. Repeat offenders tend to have higher bail amounts. Regardless of the amount, most people rely on Allegheny County bail bonds agents to help them.

If you have a friend or family member who has been charged with a crime, you may be looking for a way to help him or her out of jail. After all, most people can prepare a better defense if they are not in jail awaiting the court date. Bail is what allows defendants to wait for their trial at home.