How the Bail Process Works in Connecticut

The arrest and bail process can seem complicated for someone going through this for the first time. Here, I will explain everything that you need to know about the arrest process and how bail works.

The Bail Process

As soon as a person gets arrested, the police take them into custody. The police will then get their basic personal information and fingerprints. After the arrest, you will most likely be sent to a bail hearing, also known as an arraignment. At the bail hearing, a judge determines the necessity of bail in the situation. Most first time offenders charged with minor crimes get released from police custody without bail. The expectation is that these people will return to court on their own.

So, if you are a first time offender, you might be released from jail with no need to post bail, or the bail bond will be very low.

However, in other cases, a bail hearing might determine if bail should get granted or denied. In a bail hearing, a judge will set a specific financial amount for the bail. By Connecticut state law, police must notify bail staff when a defendant in a criminal case cannot make the bond amount set by police. Bail staff will have to speak directly to the defendant to conduct an interview to get any personal information from the defendant and review the bond amount that the judge set.

During a bail hearing, it is important to prove your good standing in the community, a limited criminal history, and other positive aspects of your character in order to show a judge that you deserve bail. If bail is denied, you must await your trial in police custody.

For more information on how bail works, contact our office. We can discuss your situation and try to get you a good bail offer.