It is the intent of the Uniform Fine/Bail Schedule to provide assistance to the judge in determining the appropriate bail to be assessed in a particular case and to minimize disparity of bails imposed by different courts for similar offenses.  However, as you will see, there are a number of factors which allow for the deviation from these guidelines.  First, according to the 8th Amendment of the US Constitution, bail shall not be punitive.  This means that bail shall not be set so high as to be a punishment in itself. The purpose of bail is simply to secure the appearance of the defendant. This may mean that bail could be reduced for an indigent and raised for someone with excessive wealth.

If you have questions about why bail has been set at a certain rate or need help with a bail reduction hearing, please call us toll free at 888-767-2245.