What is a Bail Bond?

A criminal defendant's bail bond is an agreement to pay the court if they fail to meet the conditions of their conditional release from custody. Many bail bonds require the signatures of both the defendant and the defendant's sureties (e.g., a bondsman). Certain bail bonds can only be signed by the defendant, who may also be required to make a cash deposit with the court as a form of security for the bond. However, because the vast majority of defendants lack the financial resources necessary to post their own bail, they look for a bail bondsman with whom they may reach a written agreement. The bail bondsman works as a surety for the court by giving money for the person's bail and promising that the defendant will appear in court when the case is called.