The word bail as a legal term means:
- Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an
arrested person as a guarantee of that person's appearance for trial.
- As a verb: to secure the release of an arrested person by providing bail.
- Release from imprisonment on payment of such money.
- As a verb: to release a person under such guarantee.
- The person providing such payment.
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| Criminal procedure |
| Investigating and charging crimes |
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| Criminal investigation |
| Arrest warrant · Search warrant |
| Probable cause · Knock and announce |
| Exigent circumstance |
| Search and seizure · Arrest |
| Right to silence · Miranda warning (U.S.) |
| Grand jury |
| Criminal prosecution |
| Statute of limitations · Nolle prosequi |
| Bill of attainder · Ex post facto law |
| Criminal jurisdiction · Extradition |
| Habeas corpus · Bail |
| Inquisitorial system · Adversarial system |
| Charges and pleas |
| Arraignment · Indictment |
| Plea · Peremptory plea |
| Nolo contendere (U.S.) · Plea bargain |
| Related areas of law |
| Criminal defenses |
| Criminal law · Evidence |
| Civil procedure |
| Portals: Law · Criminal justice |
Traditionally, bail is some form of property presented to the court in order to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail ("skipping bail," or "jumping bail," is also illegal).
In most cases bail money will be returned at the end of the trial, if
all court appearances are made, no matter whether the person is found
guilty or not guilty of the crime accused. In some countries, including
the U.S., granting bail is common. In others, depending upon the court
and the accusations, bail is not always available. Countries without
bail imprison the suspect before the trial only if deemed necessary.
Legislatures also set out certain crimes to be unbailable, such as capital crimes or in some cases premeditated murder.
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