If you have been arrested in New Jersey, you are likely concerned about getting released from jail as soon as possible. Fortunately, you may be able to obtain bail, which will authorize your temporary freedom until your specified court date. Please continue reading and contact a qualified Bergen County Criminal Defense Attorney to discover how we can help you through the bail and bond process.
What is the bail and bond process in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, if you are arrested, you are likely worried about the potential penalties you may be subject to. However, your primary concern should be getting released from jail. To achieve this, you will need to secure bail. Following an arrest, you will be booked, and a judge will set a bail amount. Typically, this occurs within twelve hours of the complaint being filed. It is critical to note that certain criminal offenses and correctional facilities enforce standard bail amounts.
Ultimately, the purpose of bail is to guarantee that you will attend court on the scheduled date. You can obtain temporary freedom if you can adhere to the bail conditions. Your temporary freedom will be revoked if you do not comply with your bail conditions. However, depending on the specific crime, bail may not be offered, or if you cannot pay for bail, you will be kept in custody.
The decision to allow you to post bail and be released is based on the nature of the alleged crime and whether you have any prior criminal convictions. If the court determines that releasing you would pose a significant danger to the community, bail will not be granted.
What options are available for a defendant’s release?
In most cases, the following release options are available to defendants that are eligible for bail:
- Release on Own Recognizance (R.O.R): If the crime is considered minor and you are known in the community, not considered a danger, and there is minimal risk of fleeing, you may be released without any pretrial financial security. This ensures that they will appear in court on their trial date.
- Cash bond: If you pay the total amount of bail in cash, the bond court holds this amount to ensure you show up for your court date. If obligations are not met, the money is forfeited. Essentially, cash bonds guarantee payment. You can likely obtain a cash bond if the crime is minor, such as a traffic incident.
- Cash with 10%: Another option is paying 10% of the bail in cash; the remainder does not have to be paid unless you fail to appear in court for your trial date.
- Property bonds: Another alternative option is to use owned property, such as a vehicle, to secure your release. Essentially, a lien is placed on your property for the bail amount.
- Bail bond: A licensed bail bondsman will provide a written guarantee to the court that you will appear on the specified court date.
If you have been arrested, it is in your best interest to contact a talented Bergen County criminal defense attorney from The Law Office of Carl Spector who can represent your interests during your bail hearing. Our firm is committed to protecting our client’s rights.
