Can You Bond Yourself Out of Jail?
Facing a criminal charge can be an unpleasant experience, especially if you are in police custody.
However, in Connecticut, accused individuals may be eligible to post bail and get out of jail while awaiting trial and sentencing.
In most cases, family members, friends, or bail bond companies post bail on behalf of a defendant, especially if the bail amounts are relatively high. However, you might also consider the question: can I bond myself out of jail?
In this post, our team at Connecticut Bail Bonds Group discusses how you can bail yourself out of jail in Connecticut.
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How Does Bail Work?
Before releasing a person from custody, the court needs assurance that they will return to court on their hearing dates. Consequently, the court may set bail, a monetary amount the defendant needs to pay as “collateral.”
By posting bail, the defendant secures their agreement to comply with all conditions for release, including their return to court for all future appearances. When the trial’s penalty phase concludes, and the defendant complies with all bail conditions, the court will repay the bail money, regardless of whether the judge or jury finds the defendant guilty.
Suppose you have posted bail to get out of jail, then fail to attend your hearings. In this case, you risk forfeiting bail, which means the court doesn’t repay your bail money. You also risk bail forfeiture if you fail to comply with any other bail conditions that the court set during the arraignment hearing.
How Does the Court Determine the Bail Amount?
Under Connecticut law, you must attend an arraignment hearing within 48 hours after arrest. During this hearing, a judge will evaluate your case, determine if you are eligible to receive bail, and set the bail amount. Some offenses have pre-determined bail amounts, so you might not need to attend the bail hearing.
The court considers various factors when determining your bail amount, including:
- The circumstances and nature of the criminal charge
- The penalty for the charged offense
- Your family and ties with the community
- Your housing situation
- Your employment history and reputation in the community
- Evidence that you might be a flight risk
- Any restraining orders that might currently be in effect
- Any other criminal charges you may be facing
- A history of failing to appear at court hearings
- Any false identities you may have
- A history of substance abuse or mental illness
Suppose the court finds you have family in another state with no stable housing situation. In this case, if you are facing a serious criminal charge, you can expect the bail amount to be thousands of dollars.
Once the court sets the bail amount and conditions, you can bail out of jail, then return for your court dates.
Can You Bail Yourself Out of Jail?
After the bail hearing, you will return to jail. If you have cash, you can post your own bail and get out of jail. When bail amounts are relatively low, defendants often post their own bail to secure their release.
Who can pay your bail if you don’t have the financial resources?
In most cases, defendants can’t afford to bond themselves out of jail. However, the law allows third parties to post bail on behalf of a defendant. A friend or family member can post bail on your behalf if you can’t afford bail.
You can also take advantage of bail bond services. In this case, a bail bondsman posts bail on your behalf in exchange for a fixed and non-refundable fee that is a percentage of the bail amount. The court is also a party to the bail bond agreement, and the bail bondsman commits to forfeiting the entire bond amount if you don’t adhere to the bail conditions.
Before granting a bail bond to a defendant, the bail bond company will also consider some of the same factors as the court, mitigating the risk of bail forfeiture and financial loss. For example, the bail bond company will consider:
- If you are facing a first criminal charge
- Your housing and employment situation
- Your credit score
In some cases, bail bond companies prefer to enter into agreements with defendants’ family members.
Do You Need Bail Bonds in Connecticut?
If you are a defendant in a Connecticut criminal case, posting bail is crucial to get out of jail so that you can consult with your legal team and work on your case.
At Connecticut Bail Bonds Group, we are a leading provider of bail bond services. If you don’t have the funds to post bail yourself, we can help. We offer a prompt, 24/7 bail bond service, ensuring that you or your family member doesn’t spend unnecessary time in jail.
In addition to providing a responsive bail bond service, we will answer any questions, helping you make informed decisions. Call us today to speak to our bail bondsman on duty.
