Being arrested for and charged with a crime is often incredibly overwhelming for many, especially when the judge sets bail at an amount you cannot afford to pay. Unfortunately, many people are left to assume they must save their money to pay for legal representation, meaning they will remain in jail until their hearing. However, it’s important to understand you may be able to have bail bonds reduced by working with an Oklahoma City felony defense lawyer. The following blog explores these circumstances in further detail.
What Is a Bail and How Is It Determined?
When someone is arrested, depending on the circumstances of their case, may have the option to be released from jail by paying bail. Essentially, this is a collateral payment that ensures you will return to your scheduled court hearings if you are released from jail. As long as you appear at all scheduled court hearings, upon the decision of your case, the money will be returned to you. If you do not return as scheduled, the court will retain the full funds and you will be taken back to jail, as failure to appear will violate the terms of your bail release.
Unfortunately, it can be hard to estimate the cost of your bail. This is because it is up to the discretion of the judge assigned to your case to determine based on the unique factors present in your offense. However, the courts will generally consider the following factors when making this decision:
- The severity of the crime
- Whether or not any aggravating factors are present in your case
- If you have a criminal history
- Whether or not you are a flight risk
It’s important to understand that if you are facing a felony offense, you may find that bail often starts at a minimum of $20,000, making this incredibly expensive and unachievable for many.
What Can I Do to Have Bail Bonds Reduced?
If bail has been set in your criminal case, understanding whether or not this can be reduced so you can afford the payments is critical. Generally, trying to file a motion to have this reduced on your own can often result in an unfavorable outcome. As such, it’s imperative to connect with an experienced attorney to help you through these matters. It’s important to understand that if you can post bail, you will not be able to retain the assistance of a public defender.
Working with an attorney can help fight on your behalf to have the bail amount reduced. For example, if this is your first criminal offense or you have strong ties to the community, your lawyer may be able to argue that you will not flee before your next hearing. Similarly, if you are not in a strong financial position, your attorney can argue that posting a few thousand dollars is enough to secure your appearance, as you’ll want to get that money returned to you after your case.
Unfortunately, many people feel like they must choose between remaining behind bars or obtaining quality legal representation. At the Jones Firm, PLLC, our team will do everything in our power to fight for your best interest from your arrest to the decision of your case. If you need assistance having your bail bonds reduced, connect with us today to learn how we can assist you during these matters.
