What happens if the judge sets bail?

Will the judge set bail? What should I do?

First of all, it wouldn’t hurt to bring some money to court with you. That way, if the bail is reasonable, you can post the bail at the courthouse and get your friend or loved one released very quickly.

If you don’t have enough money with you, you can always go to the bank and come back. However, at certain times throughout the day the defendants who have already been arraigned are shipped out to a jail facility. If you can’t get the money in time, this may mean a trip out to Riverhead (for Suffolk arrests), East Meadow (Nassau County), Rikers Island or what we affectionately call “The Barge,” the floating jail in the Bronx, to post bail in New York City.

If the judge sets bail you can’t afford to post, there will often be a “bond alternative,” meaning that you can get a licensed New York State bail bondsman to post a bond for you. This is similar to buying an insurance policy to make sure the defendant comes back to court. You pay the bail bondsman a fee that you won’t get back, and then you secure the bond by posting some form of property, often real estate, which you could lose if the defendant doesn’t show up when he’s supposed to. A bail bond costs a fraction of what the judge sets as cash bail. We recommend Empire Bail Bonds, not because we make any money from referring cases to them (we don’t), but because they are honest and fair with our clients.

Call us today for a free initial consultation
Suffolk 631-204-8254 — Manhattan 212-233-4141 — Nassau 516-206-2002
Toll free 888-315-9841

Services

Contact

Contact us today for a free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. 888-315-9841

Just when I was getting discouraged and was at my wits end trying to find the right attorney for my case, a family member recommended Mr. Brill. He did not disappoint. Mr. Brill and his team are diligent, very professional, encouraging and honest every step of the way. Highly recommended.

- A.S.