Basic Rules and Guidelines about Bail in Keller, TX
The basic definition of bail according to state law is posted in Title 1, chapter 17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, and it states that: “”Bail” is the security given by the accused that he will appear and answer before the proper court the accusation brought against him, and includes a bail bond or a personal bond.”
A bail bond on the other hand refers to the written agreement that the defendant will appear in court on a designated day after the bail money has been delivered. Whether you’re the accused or the guarantor in this scenario, it pays to know the basics of how bail bonds in Keller, TX is supposed to work.
How is bail amount determined?
Naturally, the main factor that will determine how much bail is necessary will be the gravity of the offense committed. Other factors include the defendant’s past criminal record (if there is any) and his employment status. Texas law also allows the accused to request a judge to review written statements of witnesses and other evidence in the determination of the bail amount.
What are the conditions?
Criminal defense lawyer John W. Carini writes this in his article posted at Avvo.com with regards to possible bail conditions that the court might impose:
“Be prepared for conditions of bail. These typically include: no contact with the alleged victim or witnesses; no further violations of the law, (something we are all supposed to be doing anyway); possibly complete sobriety, especially if the charge involves drugs or alcohol; an alcohol assessment, (in those same types of cases); restrictions on driving; periodic, even daily reporting to some official; possibly an ankle bracelet linked to a phone or GPS. There could be others; the judge has wide leeway in setting conditions. Be sure that you understand all the conditions before you leave, so that you don’t accidentally violate one and get yourself in further trouble.”
Jumping Bail
There are two instances wherein the accused can be held for “jumping bail”: (1) failing to appear in court as agreed upon, and (2) violating any one of the conditions set by the court. In any of these cases, your bail will likely be revoked and you may have to sit in jail for a certain period of time.
If you have a friend or loved one who needs to be bailed out and you have no idea or the resources to do so, you can turn to a trusted Keller bail bonds provider like Just Bail Bonds. Before you go ahead and bail out someone you know, consider first whether the person is a flight risk and will only put your efforts to waste.
(Source: Basic Facts of Bail / Bond, AVVO)