Bail amounts by crimes can differ by district, jurisdiction, or court. Even so, the amounts are fairly similar no matter where you are in Utah. The fines imposed on convicted criminals are a good indicator of what the bail might be for those not yet proven guilty. Besides explaining bail, this article goes over the recommended fines for the different crimes in Utah, giving you a good idea of what the bail amount will be.
Bail is what you pay to get out of jail before your trial. The amount is set by the judge during the arraignment or initial hearing. After it's set, you can try to get it lowered, go to jail, pay the bail, or pay a bail bond.
While there are many bail schedules for the different areas in Utah, there is one fine schedule that applies statewide. Typically, bail amounts will be higher than fine amounts. This may seem odd, as those who may be innocent must pay a higher price than those proven guilty. However, bail is for the sole purpose of making sure the defendant shows up to court, and fines are mandatory fees that a convicted person must pay regardless of jail or prison time. Unlike bail, fines are not refundable, and payment is required.
There are a few types of bail bonds in Utah: cash bond, federal bail bond, immigration bail bond, property bond, surety bond, and recognizance.
The severity of the crime will influence the bail amount. If the crime is gruesome or involves children, the bail will most certainly be raised higher than the bail schedule’s recommended fee. Bail can also be reduced if there's an application for it at the arraignment or a reduction motion filed by your lawyer. In typical circumstances (non-extreme cases), the judge will probably follow the bail schedule for the classification of crime that the defendant is being tried for.
Felonies are more extreme crimes than misdemeanors. They range from more than 1 year in prison to life sentences or even the death penalty. They include:
Misdemeanors are less serious crimes and are classified as:
These are fines if convicted, not bail amounts.
The bail amount is the same as the recommended fine, so the numbers below are a good indicator of what bail would be for someone accused of said crime. Recognize that the recommended fine is the minimum bail amount, so bail will likely be higher than the fines suggest.
Usually a Class A or B misdemeanor. Class A recommended fine is $1,960, Class B is $690.
Can range from misdemeanors to felonies depending on the extremity of the act. Fines can be from $350 for minor offenses to $20,000 for severe cases.
Class A misdemeanors range from $2,500 for poor criminal records to $510 for excellent records. Class B misdemeanors range from $1,000 for poor criminal records to $260 for excellent records. These do not include the surcharge, meaning the full fine amount would be more.
Often first-degree felonies, punishable by life imprisonment, with fines ranging from $20,000 to $25,000, not including prison time.
Most are Class B misdemeanors with a recommended fine of $690. More serious crimes follow the fine schedule for Class A or felony degrees.
A first conviction for a DUI requires a paid fine of $1,383 for district court and $1,390 for justice court. Previous convictions within 10 years have slightly higher fines. Felony DUI cases are only heard in district courts with fines starting at $2,903.
A bail bond is an agreement where a bondsman pays the bail for you. The bondsman requires a co-pay of 10% of the bail, and a family member that will make sure the defendant shows up to court. If the defendant doesn’t show, the family member must reimburse the bail bondsman. If the defendant appears, the bail is refunded, and the family member is unaffected.
By knowing the recommended fines for various offenses, you can get an idea of the potential bail amounts. If you are accused of any crime and cannot afford the bail, hiring a bail bondsman can be a helpful solution. They will pay the majority of your bail, allowing you to await trial at home. Just make sure to show up to court so your family doesn’t lose the collateral to the bail bondsman. Those convicted of a crime and required to pay a fine cannot rely on a bail bondsman, as there is no bail involved in this situation.
Call Sportsmans Bail Bonds at 801-919-8496 for help.