• 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.

Criminal procedure
Investigating and charging crimes
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.