Once you have had your initial court hearing, bail will be set by the judge. A bond schedule will be used that determines the amount of bail for each crime, according to the severity of the crime and the number of offenses the defendant has on his or her record. Several things are taken into consideration by the judge when determining how much bail is needed. Evidence, nature of the crime and the defendant's past history (both criminal and personal) will be looked at closely.
A good example of this is a drunk driving or DUI offense. Normally, the basic bail would range from $10,000 to $15,000. If it involves an accident with substantial property damage or physical injury to another person, the bond can go as high as $100,000 or more. In cases where the defendant is considered a flight risk, bail can be in excess of a million dollars or more.
