After an arrest, bail is either set by an automatic schedule listing the amounts for specific crimes or it is set by a judge in a hearing. Having a defense lawyer present for the bail hearing or arraignment is essential for various reasons, including for persuading the judge to be lenient about bail. The defendant will want bail to be set low enough that he or she can either pay refundable cash to the court or apply for bail bonds in Kingston NY.
Enormous Significance
The setting of bail can be enormously significant in regard to the outcome of a case. Set too high, the defendant and his or her family may not even be able to afford the service fee for bail bonds in Kingston NY. The defendant then must remain in jail until the case is resolved. When this happens, the person is much more likely to agree to a plea bargain quickly, even if the terms are not especially favorable.
Being Released
In contrast, if a lawyer convinces a judge that the defendant is not a flight risk and is unlikely to get into further trouble, bail may be set at a more reasonable level. A judge might even allow release on the defendant’s own recognizance, meaning no bail or bond is required. If a bail amount is set, surety bonds for the person’s release are available from organizations like Business Name.
Resisting Unfavorable Plea Deals
District attorneys are under pressure to prosecute cases in which the defendants are in jail because jails tend to be overcrowded. Cases in which defendants have been released may not be addressed for months. This allows a substantial amount of time for a defense lawyer to work on the case and achieve a positive result. District attorneys are more motivated to offer more favorable plea deals to these defendants to clear the cases from the system. They know that the defendants now are in no rush to accept an offer. Innocent defendants are more willing to wait for their day in court in front of a jury.
