Answer:
In order to be released from custody temporarily pending their trial, a defendant must post bail, which is a sum of money determined by the court. Criminal defendants may be eligible for the following types of bail:
Cash bail: The defendant provides the court with the entire bail sum in cash.
Surety bond: The defendant pays a bail bondsman a non-refundable fee (often 10% of the bail amount) as a promise to appear in court.
Property bond: The defendant pledges real estate as security to cover the bail sum.
Bail has a substantial impact on the criminal justice system because it enables defendants who can pay it to avoid pre-trial imprisonment, which can have a number of detrimental effects, such as job loss, family separation, and a reduced capacity to present a defence. However, by allowing those with more financial means to obtain their release while keeping those without them behind bars, bail can also serve to maintain systemic inequity.
Bail agents are essential to the criminal justice system because they guarantee that the prisoner will appear in court for their trial. They additionally assist offenders who are unable to afford to pay the full amount of bail by fronting the funds in exchange for a fee. Bail agents also make sure the defendant shows up in court as needed and keep an eye on their compliance with the terms of their release.