A judge or magistrate sets bail to ensure that the suspect will return to court when ordered to appear. Bail can be made in the form of cash, property, or a bond. The court will keep the bail if the suspect fails to appear in court when ordered.
Many factors are taken into consideration when the judge or magistrate determines the amount of bail. This article discusses the four important factors that help set bail.
The 4 Important Factors of Setting Bail
The four important and common factors that judges generally consider when setting a defendant’s bail include:
- The amount should be sufficiently high to give reasonable assurance that the suspect will attend all court scheduled appearances and comply with all of the conditions of the set bail.
- Reviewing the nature of the offense and the circumstances under which the alleged crime was committed.
- The ability of the suspect to make bail, provided the suspect or his or her criminal defense attorney provides sufficient proof of the funds.
- The future safety of the victim of the alleged offense and the community as a whole is also a big factor is setting bail.
Most importantly, the judge will also consider the suspect’s criminal history, employment history, financial assets and ties to the community.
Your Criminal Defense Attorney’s Role
In advocating your release on bail, your criminal defense attorney will try to convince the judge that:
- The chances of a conviction are not high
- Your reliability and ties in the community make you an unlikely candidate to flee while on bail
- The alleged offense is not a serious crime
Call an Experienced Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney
For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Simon Aval, please call us at (800) 209-9808 or complete our online form. Mr. Aval is a Certified Specialist in criminal law by the state bar of California.