Cash bail is a way for people who have been arrested and charged with a crime to be released from jail while they await trial. In most cases, a person who is arrested will be taken to a jail facility, where they will be held until they can be released on bail or until their case is resolved in court.

If a person is eligible for bail, a judge will set an amount that must be paid in order for the person to be released from jail. This amount is typically based on the severity of the crime that the person is accused of, as well as the person’s criminal history and their ties to the community.

To be released on bail, a person must either pay the bail amount in cash or use a bail bond agent to secure their release. If the person pays the bail amount in cash, they will get the money back after they appear in court as required. If they use a bail bond agent, they will pay a fee, which is typically a percentage of the bail amount, and the bail bond agent will post the bail on their behalf.

If the person fails to appear in court as required, they may forfeit the bail amount or the bail bond agent may pursue them for the full amount of the bail.

The majority of people in prisons or jails in the U.S. awaiting charges and cannot afford to meet cash bail to return home. This is part of the injustice of our criminal legal system, which is why organizations are working to abolish it.