Bail, also called “bail bond” or “surety bond,” is a sum of money paid to the court in order to secure the release of a person who has been arrested and charged with a crime. The purpose of bail is to ensure that the person will return to court for their scheduled hearings.
The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits excessive bail, and the amount of bail that is set should be based on the severity of the crime, the person’s financial resources, and their ties to the community. In some cases, a person may be released on their own recognizance, without having to pay bail.