Can you post your own bail?

If you’ve just been arrested or are about to be arrested is it possible to post bail without involving a friend or family member? Can you post your own bail?

The short answer is yes but the practicalities of bailing yourself out of jail make it unlikely. In this article we’ll take a look at the how the bail bond process works and in what situations you can post your own bail.

The cash dilemma

The main obstacle determining whether you can post your own bail is cash. Simply put, while there are other options, you have to pay most bail in full with cash.

Because you are more likely to realize you need bail after you’ve already been arrested it is unlikely you’ll have the full bail amount on you in cash. Also remember that when the police place you in jail they take your personal belongings from you.

There are some situations where you may be arrested at home with some prior knowledge of the arrest. In these cases it may be possible to have the cash on hand when you are arrested but this is uncommon.

The best option if you know you are going to be arrested is to prepare the cash beforehand. You can then give this to a friend or family member to post bail for you. This keeps the financial burden of bail off of them and should ease the stress of the bail process.

Speeding up the bail process

Now that we know it’s unlikely that you will be able to post your own bail, let’s look at some ways to speed up the bail process. Each of these options involves communication with a friend or family member who will need to assist you while you are in jail.

Posting bail before it is set

Most bond hearing courts have a set bail amounts for various charges. A typical bail hearing will follow this fee schedule to save time in bond hearing court. To take advantage of this you can instruct your friend or family member to go to the bond hearing court before you hearing. They can then post the bail amount before your bail is set. The result is that instead of having to go back to jail you may be released directly from bond hearing court.

Contact a bail bondsman

You can smooth the process of having someone bail you out by having them contact a bail bondsman. A bail bondsman will be familiar with the local bond hearing process as well as the fee schedule. They will be able to walk them through the steps necessary to get you out of jail. This is a crucial benefit, as you will have limited contact with your friend or family member while you are in jail.

To take advantage of a bail bondsman’s expertise first explain to them how the bail process works. Tell them what they should know before contacting a bail bondsman. This will give them the confidence to hire a bail agent on your behalf and get you out of jail.

Contact a lawyer

If you prefer not to use a bail bond agent to post bail for you then you can instruct your friend or family member to contact a lawyer. Like a bail bondsman, a lawyer will have experience with the local bond hearing and arraignment process. The lawyer will also be able to communicate with them while you are in jail. They will explain the different options and the timing for getting you out of jail.

Conclusion: Can you post your own bail? Probably not.

While it is possible to post your own bail after you are arrested it’s unlikely you will be able to. The necessity for cash and the limitations of being in custody make it difficult.

That said there are ways to speed up the bail process and make it easier on the person bailing you out. You can ask them to pre-pay your bail based on a posted bail fee schedule. You can have them contact a bail bondsman on your behalf. Last, you can also have them consult a lawyer for you.

No matter which option you choose you’ll need to communicate with the person helping to bail you out. Explain to them how the bail process works and which steps you want them to take. If you do that then you’ll be out of jail and back with your friends and family before you know it.

If you have any questions about the bail bond process you can contact us 24 hours a day.