Do you get bail money back?

[Ben]

I've never been arrested, but I've always wondered how the whole bail thing works. Why do they set bail so high sometimes? Do you get it back (is it like a deposit) if you don't flee the precinct before your trial? What's it all about?

[the last ronin]

In Canada it's like a deposit, if you run, they keep it.
it's supposed to deter you.

[The Roman Candle]

As far as I know, you do get it back.

[Ben]

So how do bail bondsman make money? I guess they basically give you a low (or high?) interest loan to pay your bail?

And are bails set high to deter people from even paying at all? Like if they're a high flight risk, but not high enough to preclude setting bail at all, they'll set it to a couple million to try and prevent them from paying it to begin with?

[Kirblar]

Bondsmen keep the 10% you give them. They supply the $. If Bail is 10,000, you give the bondsman $1000.

[WAKKAJAWAKKA]

Bondsmen keep the 10% you give them. They supply the $. If Bail is 10,000, you give the bondsman $1000.

Yep.

Wayno.

[neophyte]

Under most circumstances, it gets returned.

However, in cases where there's a fine...oftentimes, it will become a deposit upon that fine.