The laws regarding bail in the United States are clear, laying out when bail is to be given and when it is to be denied. State by state, however, these laws will vary, particularly schedules governing the bail amounts to be set for typical criminal offenses.
Current U.S. bail laws offer additional protection to society in that bail may be denied if a defendant is considered to be a danger to society. Previous laws only took into consideration a defendant's likelihood to be a flight risk. In 1984, however, U.S. Congress replaced the previous laws governing bail, the
Bail Reform Act of 1966, with new laws. These laws are found in United States Code, Title 18, Sections 3141-3150.
According to United States bail laws, a person may be denied bail if:
- The crime was one of violence, with the maximum penalty of 10+ years imprisonment
- The crime was punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty
- The offense was a drug crime, with a sentence of 10 or more years in prison
- The defendant had previously been convicted of 2 felony offenses, as above
- There is a serious risk the defendant will flee
- There is a risk that the defendant will be a danger to witnesses or jury members
- There is a risk that the defendant will attempt to obstruct justice in any way
At times, a hearing will be held even if a crime does not qualify for bail, just to see if bail can be given anyway.
At Dan's Bail Bonds, we are familiar with the U.S. laws as they concern bail. Our licensed Bail Bond Agents serve all of Los Angeles, including Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange County.
Contact a Los Angeles Bail Bond Agent at Dan's Bail Bond's today!