Understanding the bail bonds process can be difficult, especially if this is the first time you or a loved one has been arrested. Emotions can run high following an untimely arrest, making it even more difficult to make heads or tails of an already stressful situation. Affordable Bail Bonding does more than just offer bail bonds in Chatham — we take the time to walk you through the bail bonds process so that you understand how it works and what to expect. In today’s post, we’ll provide a high-level overview of some of the factors that a magistrate considers when reviewing when setting bail amounts. Let’s get started!
Magistrate Considerations When Setting Bail
Your Charges and Flight Risk
First and foremost, the Court will determine if you pose a flight risk. If the magistrate is concerned about you leaving town and skipping bail, they are not likely to grant bail in the first place. Additionally, they will review the seriousness of the charges that you are facing. If you are facing capital charges, murder charges, rape charges, or any other serious charges, it is unlikely that bail will be approved because you pose a safety risk to the public. If you are neither a safety risk or a flight risk, the magistrate will move onto reviewing other factors.
Your Criminal Record
They will also review your record to get a picture of your criminal history. The Courts can tell a lot from your criminal record. Previous offenses are often pretty good indicators of future ones and if the magistrate is worried that you’ll reoffend once you are released, then they may be more inclined to set your bail at a higher amount. For example, someone who has been arrested five times for shoplifting is likely to have a higher bail amount than someone who was just arrested for the first time for a minor offense.
Your Relationship with the Court
This might seem a little unorthodox, but it is something that can be factored into your bail amount. If the Court has been lenient on bail previously, or if they previously released you from jail on a personal recognizance bond and you failed to appear at court, they may be less inclined to trust you in the future. As a result, they may set your bail amount higher than they would for someone who has a better, more trustworthy relationship with the court system. This is just one reason why it is always good to appear in court on your scheduled date.
Your Standing in the Community
The magistrate may also give consideration to your standing in the community. Are you an upstanding citizen who regularly contributes to your community through volunteer work? Do you have a family and a full-time job? Have you hopped around from job to job in the past? Do you have a permanent residence? These are all questions the magistrate will ask themselves to try to get a feel for your standing in the community and their conclusions can affect how high your bail is.
Your Mental and Physical Health
Lastly, the magistrate will also consider both your physical and mental health. If there is a concern about you being able to take care of yourself physically or mentally following an arrest, or if they cannot ascertain if you have someone to provide you with the care they need, this can affect whether or not they feel comfortable granting bail on your case. The Court will want confirmation that you don’t pose a risk to yourself in the event you get out of jail, which is in your best interest.
Need Bail Bonds in Chatham?
When bail has been set at an amount that is more than you can afford to pay on your own, you have two options — you or your loved one can remain in jail, or you can call a Chatham bail bonds company to get out of jail quickly. Affordable Bail Bonding is your go-to source for fast, professional bail bonds and you can count on our team to guide you through the process so you never have to worry about what comes next. Contact us today to learn more about our affordable bail bonds — we look forward to helping you.