One of the common questions that many people have when it comes to bail is just how much it will cost to have someone released from custody. Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules that apply a set number to different types of crimes.
In some cases, a judge might deny bail altogether, depending on the circumstances. If someone is likely to flee the country, for example, they would not be granted bail. Also, many parts of the country use bail schedules, which specify the bail amount for common crimes. The amount, however, can differ from one location to another.
There are often several factors that will help to determine precisely how much the bail will be. These are essentially bail algorithms that include factors like a person’s age, whether there are any other current charges they are facing, the person’s criminal history, records of not appearing in course, their perceived threat to others, a record of substance abuse or records of self-harm. Of course, the crime itself will be a significant factor. There is quite a difference between misdemeanors and felonies.
Even though the exact bail amount may differ, we can start to get an idea of bail amounts for different types of crimes in different states.
Keep in mind that when posting bail, you will not need to have all of that money on hand. Most of the time, you will need to have about 10% of the total bail money that can be paid to a bail bondsman, which is nonrefundable.
Misdemeanors
Because misdemeanors are not as serious as felonies, the bail amount will be much lower. For most minor misdemeanors, the bail amount will be around $500, but this can vary based on the factors mentioned earlier.
Felonies
Felonies are much more severe and they will have higher bail amounts to reflect this. Based on the nature of the crime and other factors, the bail could range from $1,500 to $50,000. However, there have been many cases where the bail is set at a much higher amount when the crime is serious and when there are aggravating circumstances. For example, violent felony offenses will have a bail that is set much higher.
Typical Bail Amount for Assault
For an assault, the amount of bail will vary based on the type of assault, as well as the state. Lower-income states will have lower bail amounts. Let’s look at a few examples. Assaulting a police officer could incur a bail amount of $2,500. Sexual battery is a felony charge, which means that the bail amount will typically be around $25,000. Battery against an individual, as well as a spouse, will often be around $10,000.
Typical Bail Amount for Murder
Bail on a murder charge is not always guaranteed. In many cases, there will be no bail, while other murder charges will have bail amounts of around a million dollars. Being an accessory to murder in the 1st degree will have a bail amount of around $500,000, and being an accessory in the 2nd degree will have bail set at approximately $250,000. Again, the circumstances that surround the crime will factor into whether bail is available or not and the overall amount of the bail.
Typical Bail Amount for Drug Possession
For the first offense in most states, the bail amount will be around $2,500. Those who have subsequent arrests for possession of a controlled substance will find higher bail amounts in the range of $10,000. In lower-income states, the bail will generally be lower and will often be under $1,000. Keep in mind that the amount of the controlled substance and whether there is an intent to distribute those substances will also be a factor in determining the amount of bail needed.
Find a Bail Bondsman for Help
If you have someone who needs to be released from custody, it is essential to find a reputable bail bondsman near you who can help. They can provide you with a greater understanding of precisely what you will need to do to get your loved one out of custody.
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Interesting related article: “What is Justice?“