Most people who are jailed in Texas are given bail. Bail is an amount of money that a defendant pays to the court to help guarantee that the defendant will appear at trial. Generally, because of the presumption of innocence, bail bonds in Canton Texas should be an amount that a defendant can afford since the purpose is not to punish a defendant but to guarantee that a defendant will appear. However, sometimes defendants are denied bail or given bail amounts that they will be unable to pay, even using a bail bondsman as a surety.
Reasons Defendants Might Be Denied Bail
- Prior Jail or Prison Escapes: If a defendant has a history of prior escapes, then bail will probably be denied. If granted, bail will usually be higher than normal for the offense, to try to ensure that the defendant appears at trial.
- Lengthy Criminal History: If a defendant has a lengthy criminal history, the assumption is that he or she does not feel compelled to comply with the law and may fail to appear at trial.
- Very Severe Crime: If the crime is severe and the defendant is facing a lengthy sentence or other serious punishment, the risk of flight is increased. Also, defendants who have been accused of some crimes may be in danger if granted a pre-trial release.
- History of Missing Court Dates: If a defendant has failed to appear for previous court dates, the court may choose to deny bail.
- Dual or Other Citizenship: If the defendant has dual citizenship or is a citizen of another country, the court may consider the defendant a flight risk.
- Threats to the Victim or Witness: If a defendant has made threats to a crime victim or any witnesses, then the court may deny bail.
Using Bond to Pay Bail
When bail is denied, a defendant can try to argue to have bail reinstated. When bail is set prohibitively high, a defendant may need to use the services of a bail bondsman to be released. Bail bonds in Canton Texas may be payable in installments or on credit, offering greater flexibility to family and friends who are trying to secure a defendant’s pre-trial release. Find more information about flexible bail bond arrangements by contacting the bail bondsman.
