Bail Reduction

If you have been convicted or accused of a crime in the Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area you must consider the consequences and take every step possible to properly defend yourself. In Pennsylvania, an arrest and conviction can lead to time in jail.

When you or someone you care about is arrested and sentenced to time in jail, one of the first objectives is to get that person out of jail.

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If you have any questions or would like to speak directly to an experienced criminal attorney regarding case, please do not hesitate to call my firms Philadelphia office at (267) 627-4JOE (267-627-4563) for a FREE CONSULTATION. If you prefer, you may e-mail the firm, and Attorney Mitchell or his experienced staff will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Generally speaking, when someone is arrested for an infraction or misdemeanor, they may be released with a citation based upon their promise to appear in court on a specified date. Defendants with important community ties, who do not pose any threat of danger or “risk of flight,” may be granted pretrial release in exchange for their promise to appear in court at a specific time. The benefits of pretrial release to defendants are that they are then able to help with their own defense, and they can maintain employment and family ties. These benefits also extend to the larger community, and help reserve expensive custody space for the most serious and violent criminals.

People who are released on their “own recognizance” (O.R.) are scheduled to appear at specific future court dates. If they go to all of the scheduled court appearances, then they never have to be concerned about bail or being in custody while their case is still unresolved. If, however, they fail to appear in court at the scheduled time, a bench warrant will be issued for their arrest and they can be charged with a failure to appear in court.

Bail is commonly more of an issue when it comes to felony arrests. Each county has a bail schedule that lists the bail that applies to every type of case. It is sometimes possible to get the bail amount lowered, depending upon the type of crime that is being charged, and the criminal history of each defendant. The court tends to consider such factors as whether the defendant poses any threat or danger to the community, and whether or not the defendant is a flight risk. Bail can be posted directly with the court clerk or the law enforcement agency that has custody of the defendant, or a bail bondsman may be used. Typically a bail bondsman will require a fee of approximately 10% of the amount of the bail. Collateral to secure the bond may also be required.  In Philadelphia, the City acts as bail bondsman and allows you to pay 10% of the full amount of the bail.  The City’s fee is 30% of the amount paid.

Attorney Joe Mitchell is an experienced criminal defense attorney who can be helpful in getting bail reduced, helping a defendant to be released on his/her own recognizance, or in helping the family of an accused post bail.