If you’ve been charged in a court of law, you face misdemeanor offenses. The law classifies criminal offenses according to severity and nature. Once a person is arrested and taken into custody, the judge may decide to release the suspect on class A misdemeanor.
Types of offenses in misdemeanor bail
There are three main categories of criminal offenses in the judicial system:
- violations or infractions
- misdemeanors
- felonies
Violations are the least severe offense anyone can commit. Typically, violations attract fine-based sentences. On the other hand, felonies are considered the most severe. Felony offenses and penalties can include fines and a minimum prison term of 12 months.
Misdemeanors fall in between violations and felonies. Be warned that a misdemeanor can put you behind bars. However, the bail for a misdemeanor is less than the one for a felony. In some misdemeanor cases, you may need the services of a bondsman to help with a bail bond. A misdemeanor can further be divided into three:
- High misdemeanor
- Ordinary misdemeanor
- The least severe petty misdemeanor
Bail bond
A bail bond is a defendant’s promise to pay an amount pre-determined by the court of law. It is a post-pay commitment by an accused defendant. Bail does not necessarily grant the defendant’s release. It is the court’s compelling assurance that the defendant will appear on the given date to face the charges levied against them. A defendant has several options when it comes to bail bonds. One may decide to:
- Pay the full amount immediately
- Attach assets or property valued in the same amount as the bail value
- Buy a bail bond alternatively, hire a bondsman who pays a part of the bail fee to a bail bond seller
Types of crimes that constitute a misdemeanor
As already mentioned, a misdemeanor can vary in severity. A misdemeanor can be adjudicated and punished based upon the particular class.
Class A or 1 misdemeanor– includes but is not limited to burglary, simple assault, restraining order violations, resisting arrest, being in possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence, and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Class B/2 misdemeanor- includes criminal mischief, indecent exposure, and prostitution.
Class C misdemeanor- includes minor accidents/ theft, property destruction, child endangerment, giving false reports about missing people, and writing a bad police report.
Typically, misdemeanor cases earn the defendant probation, a fine and community service if found guilty.
How bail bond works
The judge is the ultimate authority in bail issues and accepts or rejects requests for lowering bail or lifting it. Additionally, a defendant can earn a court bail if perceived to flee before trial. Therefore, the defendant must show up in court and commit by signing and agreeing to all court-ordered conditions to earn bail. A bail bond is binding regardless of the misdemeanor type and severity.
Take away
If you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, don’t take it lightly. You can also call a bail bond expert if a friend or relative is charged with any of these misdemeanor offenses. Your freedom is priceless; don’t juggle with it!
