Hopefully, you never have to know what it’s like to get entered into the prison system. However, if you do get arrested, you don’t always understand what your options are, or what they mean should you choose them. So what happens if I AM innocent?
Among the most significant concerns you likely have is whether or not the judge or jury will agree that you are innocent of what you remain accused of doing. It doesn’t help that the state will only want to play ball if you decide to enter a guilty plea.
What About Securing Bail?
If you’ve never needed to post bail before, you might think that it’s a reflection of how likely you are to confirm your innocence. However, your bail amount has nothing to do with if you committed the crime or not, but how reliable you’ll be should you get released.
Bail amounts get set to ensure that you arrive back for your official trial date. If you find yourself to be a repeat offender, you allegedly committed a severe crime, or you get deemed a flight risk, you either have a massive bail amount, or you get denied it altogether.
Most people can’t afford the upfront cash for even smaller amounts, leading to them securing a bail bond. Getting a bond isn’t an admission of guilt, and your final sentencing doesn’t matter.
What Happens If I’m Innocent?
Whether the court sides in your favor or you’re found guilty, your bail bond terms end once the trial does. Even if you are innocent, you still must pay the principal amount for your loan.
Because your bond only remains in effect for as long as your bail process does, there’s no reason to keep it active once your trial ends. Whether you get to go home or you’re off to serve time, you must pay back the principal in either scenario.
