Whether you're out on bail or just interested, this article is the one for you. We will explain every rule for someone out on bail, and how to avoid breaking those rules. By the end of the article, you should understand how bails work and what each bail rule is. Bail rules were not put there to inconvenience you, they were put there to help you have the best bail experience.
After a crime is committed the culprit will be taken into custody. The judges will set up a court date to decide if the defendant goes to jail and for how long. While waiting for the court date, they will have the choice of sitting in jail or getting out on bail. Since some court dates can be delayed by a year or more, waiting in jail is far from ideal. This is where bail comes in: paying bail allows you to be released, with the assurance that you will return for your court date.
If a person does not have money for bail they can use a bail bond. Bail bondsmen will take something from the person called collateral, like a car, and in some states a small fee. Then the bondsman will pay the court the required bail. After the court trial is done, the collateral is returned to the defendant, and the bail money is refunded to the bondsman. That is if the defendant goes to court.
If the defendant doesn't attend court, the bail bondsman loses the bail money. To recover it, the bondsman can track down the defendant or hire bounty hunters to do so. Once the defendant is found and brought back to jail, their collateral will not be returned but the bondsmen will get their bail money back from the court.
As you learned above, going to every scheduled court date is one of the most important rules for someone out on bail. Missing one can lead to you being placed in jail without the option of bail and, It will also turn the courts against you leaving you little chance of redemption. If you miss a court date, immediately call your bondsman and the court and explain the situation. Get to the court as soon as possible and prepare your excuse. If needed you can always ask your bondsman for a ride. Make sure you prepare well for your court date which includes more than showing up on time.
Some states prohibit drinking or drug use while on bail, while others simply advise against it. Regardless of legality, we strongly advise against these actions. Engaging in such behavior can lead to further misdemeanors and jeopardize your case in court.
While out on bail, it is crucial to follow every law, whether it's as minor as littering or as serious as murder. This not only keeps you in good standing with the court but also reduces the risk of bail revocation. While staying compliant should generally be pretty simple, some laws may surprise you. Utah, for example, has some particularly unusual laws that you might not have expected. It's important to be mindful of state regulations to avoid legal complications that could impact your case.
Travel laws differ between states, so it's important to communicate with your judges and bail bondsman and learn when, where, and for how long you can go while out on bail. Many factors usually determine what you're allowed when it comes to traveling. For instance, The type of crime you're accused of— like drug charges—international travel might not be allowed. If you've missed court dates in the past, you might be limited to your city or county. The timing of your court date is also important; if it's coming up soon, travel is typically not permitted and they might question why you are wanting to leave when it's so close to your court date. Finally, the reason you are traveling matters. Having a good reason makes it more likely you'll get approval, like a family vacation, funeral, or wedding.
In most states and cities contacting victims or witnesses is prohibited. Victims/witnesses can and most likely will report you. If you do get caught, the court will decide what to do next depending on the reason for communicating with them. If the court finds that you were being malicious your bail will be revoked. You will go back to jail until the court dates are over, and you will not be given back your bail. If you use a bail bondsman you will need to pay them back the bail money out of your pocket in order to get your collateral back.
Depending on the court you may have your right to carry weapons taken away. But, even if you're not legally restricted from possessing or using weapons, we strongly advise against it. If you're already on shaky ground, adding the temptation of weapons is unwise. Improper use of weapons will result in your bail being revoked.
A nightly curfew can be implemented when the judges grant your bail, as people tend to get in more trouble at night than in the daytime. If you are issued a curfew don't break it, even if you think you won't get caught it's still not worth it. If you are caught, most courts will have you placed back in jail without the option of bail. You will lose any chance of getting the original bail money returned to you or your bondsman. Meaning if you did use a bondsman you will have to pay him back or lose your collateral. At the end of the day, it is much simpler to just follow the rules and stick to curfew when out on bail.
While out on bail there are many different rules you will need to follow. But, as the rules are reasonable you should not have a hard time following them. Follow the court's orders, don't break any laws, and communicate well. If you do these things, you will find your time on bail comfortable, easy, and fun.