Can You Bail Yourself Out of Jail?
Published August 2, 2022
When someone is arrested and wants to post bail, someone else usually does it for them. It can either be their lawyer, family, or friends.
But what if you don’t have anyone outside to post bail for you? Can you bail yourself out of jail?
In this post, we’ll walk you through the most essential things you need to know about posting bail for yourself.
Is It Possible to Bail Yourself Out of Jail?
The short answer is yes, you can bail yourself out of jail. There’s no law that prevents you from posting your bail yourself. However, it’s not as easy as it sounds.
For one, you need to remember that you are already in custody. You won’t be able to go anywhere other than the holding cell you’re in. So for you to be able to post bail for yourself, you must have the money with you at the time you’re arrested.
In addition, bail bonds often vary in amount. Depending on the charges you’re facing and your risk of skipping out on your bail, it can go up to thousands of dollars. Plus, they’re mostly paid in cash.
So, unless you have thousands of dollars in cash in your pocket upon your arrest, bailing yourself out of jail might not be an option.
How The Bail Posting Process Works
The process of posting bail in the US is pretty straightforward.
When someone is arrested, they are immediately booked into the system. During which, charges will be filed and they’ll be stripped of all their personal possessions. They will then be held in prison until their first court appearance or arraignment.
In most cases, arraignments are held within 24 hours after a defendant is taken into custody. This is the point where the judge will determine if the defendant can post bail and the bail amount.
After the bail amount is set, the defendant or anyone can then pay the full amount at the courthouse. If the defendant doesn’t have enough money to pay the full amount, they can hire a bail bondsman to pay on their behalf.
Once it’s paid, the defendant is then released usually under certain conditions. However, they will have to appear in court during hearings. They’ll also have to keep to the conditions of their release. Doing otherwise can lead to their bail being forfeited.
If they attend all hearings, they will get a full refund of their bail amount within 60 to 90 days.
Who Can Post Bail?
Basically, anyone can post bail on behalf of the defendant. But not all defendants have the right to post bail.
The Bail Reform Act of 1984 specifically prohibits bail for certain defendants awaiting trial. Among them are defendants who are charged with:
- certain drug-related cases
- offenses that are punishable with lifetime imprisonment
- a crime of violence
Defendants who are repeat felony offenders and pose a serious flight risk are also not guaranteed bail under the same act.
Can You Pay Your Bail Other Than Cash?
If you don’t have cash, there are also other ways to pay your bail. This includes:
1. Personal Collateral
Aside from cash, the court also accepts personal property as collateral. This includes real estate, cars, and other valuable possessions like jewelry.
2. Bail Recognizance
Sometimes, the court will allow a defendant to be released on their own recognizance. Meaning, they won’t have to post bail. This usually applies to defendants who:
- have strong roots in the community
- are recommended by the prosecutor
- display emotional and mental stability
- has no criminal record
- charged with crimes that are non-violent in nature
3. Credit Card
That’s right. You can post bail using your credit card. But it depends on your state and the prison you’re in. Some prisons only accept cash. While others only accept certain types of credit cards.
Bail payments through credit cards are treated like cash advances though. So you can expect to pay interest in addition to any processing fee that your bank may impose.
4. Hiring a Bail Bondsman
If the above options aren’t feasible for you, you can also hire a bail bondsman. They post the bail on your behalf and you pay them a certain portion of the bail amount after your trial is concluded. In most cases, it’s about 10% to 15% of the total bail amount.
(Related: Can You Go To Jail For Not Paying Taxes?)
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is the lead writer for the SecurTel blog. Her passion for true crime stories and criminal justice has fueled her work and inspired millions of readers around the world.
