People who are arrested in Georgia may want to know how they can get out of jail as quickly as possible. The fastest way to do this is often to post bail, which is a financial surety that the defendant will appear in court as ordered.
In some cases, bail is predetermined based on the offense the individual is charged with. This is often done in an effort to streamline the process so defendants can be released from jail after hours if they post bail.
In other cases, setting bail may require the defendant to have a bail hearing. This is required when the judge will have to set a bail, so this isn’t something that’s typically done outside of normal court hours, with very few exceptions.
What happens once bail is set?
Once bail is set, the individual can pay the required amount to the court in the form of cash or property. If they attend all the court hearings, they will be eligible to receive their cash or property back.
Some people may not be able to cover that entire amount. In that case, they have the option of working with a bail bondsman. A bondsman requires a partial payment, usually 10% of the bail, to post a bond with the court to secure the person’s release. The bondsman is required to ensure the person goes to court. Even if the person appears at all their court hearings, they won’t receive their money or property back if they work with a bail bondsman.
Bails are only one part of the criminal justice process. Anyone who’s facing criminal charges should ensure they understand their rights and what options they have. Working with someone familiar with these matters may be beneficial.