Legal Definitions - bail bond

Bail bond is an agreement between a defendant and a bail bondsman, where the bondsman promises to pay the court if the defendant fails to meet the conditions of their release from custody. This agreement is often used when a defendant cannot afford to pay their own bail.

• John was arrested for a DUI and his bail was set at $10,000. He didn't have the money to pay for it, so he contacted a bail bondsman who agreed to pay the bail for him in exchange for a fee.
• Samantha was arrested for shoplifting and her bail was set at $5,000. She didn't have the money to pay for it, so she signed an agreement with a bail bondsman who promised to pay the bail for her in exchange for a fee.

These examples illustrate how a bail bond works. When a defendant cannot afford to pay their own bail, they can seek the help of a bail bondsman who will pay the bail for them in exchange for a fee. The defendant then agrees to appear in court and meet the conditions of their release. If they fail to do so, the bail bondsman will be responsible for paying the court the full amount of the bail.