Types of Bail

If you have been arrested, you must post bail in order to be released from jail and await your date in court. There are five main types of bail:

• Cash Bail: With cash bail, the defendant can pay the full amount in cash. In some cases, the court will accept a personal check or a credit card.
• Bail Bond (Surety Bond): A surety bond can be used for any amount of bail, but is most often used when the accused cannot afford to pay the amount of bail. In these cases, a friend or relative contacts a bail bondsman or bail agent. This commercial agency has an agreement with a special insurance company and agrees to pay the full amount of the bond if the accused fails to appear in court. The bail agent charges at least 10 percent of the total amount of the bond and also often collects collateral. If the accused fails to appear, the bail agency may hire a bounty hunter to track down the defendant.
• Cite Out (Release On Citation): In these cases, an officer does not arrest a suspect but instead issues a citation for the accused to appear in court. This practice is used so that the officer may spend time catching more serious criminals.
• Release on Own Personal Recognizance: For non-serious offenders, a suspect may be released with the sole promise that he or she will show up for court, without having to pay bail. This practice is reserved for minor, nonviolent offenders who pose no risk to others.
• Property Bond: In some cases, the accused may provide property as a bond instead of cash. If the accused does not appear in court, the court forecloses on the property to recover the bail.

Contact Us

If you have been accused of a DUI, you need an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer to defend you in court and answer any questions you may have about legal issues surrounding your arrest. For help with your DUI charge, contact Rhode Island drunk driving lawyer James Powderly at 401-662-9006.