How much is bail?
There is no fixed bail schedule in federal court. Under the Bail Reform Act, 18 USC 3141 et seq, the magistrate releases a defendant on conditions sufficient to ensure a defendants continued appearance. Therefore, release conditions, including bail, can vary dramatically depending on the seriousness of the charges, the defendants history, and the defendants financial circumstances. Bail bondsmen are rarely used in federal court. The public defender assigned to a defendant’s case can give his/her family a better feel for the conditions of release that will be required. In every case, however, the more family and community support for the defendant the more likely release will be granted.
