June 20, 2018
When the court is portrayed on television, perhaps one of the most exploited moments are bail hearings. Like the jury verdict—the only more used trope—the bail hearing lends itself to emotion, as freedom literally hangs in the balance. Usually, there’s even a commercial break before the result.
In real life, however, bail bond hearings are quick, unceremonious, and never left to cliffhangers. The process is outlined at the bail bond network. Spoiler alert: It’s not as magical as television promises. The court sees hundreds of cases, and its goal is to move the cases along. There are no juries in a bail hearing whose heartstrings you can tug. There’s only an overworked judge. The quickest way to get a negative result is to try to plead every complaint that you have in front of the judge. A long, dramatic monologue might work great for television ratings, but not for your chances of going home.
Considerations During Your Bail Hearing
With that said, a lot of information has to be communicated in a short amount of time. The court can take many factors into consideration. Here are just a few:
Personal character: This covers basic and obvious information, such as employment history and financial resources. However, the judge can also review your criminal activity. That means that missed court dates from other lesser crimes might come into play. They may take into account drug use and history with alcohol abuse. Mental and physical health may become a factor. The judge must quickly learn all there is to know about the defendant. It’s the defendant’s arduous task to make sure the judge likes them.
Harm to self or others: The judge will take into account the defendant’s relationship with his community. The defendant needs to show—again, in a very quick succession—that he or she is not a danger to the community. The judge does not want to be responsible for putting criminals back on the street. Furthermore, the judge must see that the defendant is not a flight risk, meaning that the judge will trust the defendant to show up for his or her next hearing. This means that the judge must trust the defendant.
Part of the community: Finally, the judge must see that the defendant positively affects the community. If the defendant has a job, a family, and serves the community, those factors will all help convince the judge that it’s best to let the defendant back into the community. In the end, the judge must see enough value in the defendant to let him out on bail.
Call a Skilled St. Petersburg, Florida, Criminal Defense Attorney Today
With so much to say in so little time, you need someone with skills and experience in your corner against the Florida criminal court system. That’s where the Khonsari Law Group comes in. We will bring our expertise, confidence, and know-how to the fight for you. If you have a bail bond hearing approaching, contact the Khonsari Law Group at (727) 269-5300 or contact us online today to schedule a free initial consultation.