What is a bail hearing?

At a bail hearing the court will decide whether you may be released into the community while dealing with your current charges. The court will decide based on a number of factors, specifically whether you will attend court when required, that there is no risk to the community upon release, and whether the community would not be seriously offended by your release.

It is at this time that the individual charged will likely require the assistance of family members or friends who will need to act as sureties. A surety is an individual who agrees to be legally responsible if another person (the person charged) fails to perform the undertaking enforced by the courts, such as the undertaking to appear in court or pay a debt owed. For a surety to be suitable it is recommended that the individual(s) be at least 21 years of age, were not involved in the offence committed, do not have a criminal record, and are employed for example.