Once you have been charged with a crime in Houston, you will be asked to attend a hearing where the judge will decide your trial date and whether or not you are to be released on bail until trial or returned in to custody.

Releasing a person charge with a crime out on bail means the Judge will set an amount of money that must be paid to the court in order to assure the defendants return to court on the set trial date.

Once the accused attends their court date, most of the money used to post bail will be returned. A small amount will be kept to cover any administrative fees.

According to the 8th Amendment, bail can’t be excessive; only sufficient to ensure that the defendant will attend the trial. If you can’t afford the bail amount set, a judge can lower it either at the hearing, at the arraignment or at a special bond hearing.