Say what you like about North Carolina’s justice system, but being granted of bail is a privilege. If you pay it in full or seek the help of a jail bond company in Smithfield, NC or any nearby community, your incarcerated loved one can get out of prison while being tried. The freedom may be temporary until an acquittal is attained, but it is freedom nevertheless.
Not all arrested individuals get lucky, however. Below are the usual reasons a judge might refuse to give bail.
1. Committing a Terribly Serious Crime
Some people accused of a crime so heinous are deemed not deserving of bail and to be locked up while the case is being heard. If your loved one is charged with a felony associated with violence, sexual assault or anything that warrants the death penalty, bail may be a pipe dream.
2. Being a Repeat Offender
A former jail inmate who gets arrested again has a lower chance of being granted bail. The judge might deem such a person unworthy because of not only a committed crime in the past but also the perceived failure of individual reformation after serving a sentence.
3. Getting Arrested While on Probation
Like being a repeat offender, getting arrested for a crime while on probation for a prior offence would not sit well with a judge. The same can be said about your loved one if he or she gets incarcerated after being given parole before.
4. Showing Tendency to Be a Flight Risk
If a judge has a reason to believe that your loved one is likely to disappear after being released from pretrial detention, bail might be denied. The last thing a court wants is to let an arrested person go only to hide and remain at large indefinitely.
5. Having a Record of Missing Court Appearances
Does your loved one have a history of not showing up for trial? The judge might not express enough sympathy to grant him or her bail.
6. Lacking Legal U.S. Citizenship
Undocumented immigrants have a slim chance to have the opportunity to post bail when in police custody. Their very presence in the United States itself is questionable, so a judge might deny the release of such a person outright.
7. Disrespecting the Judge
Showing disrespect to a judge one way or another is a fast way to get locked up without being granted bail. Although the judge may change his or her mind later on, it is not a guarantee.
8. Being a Threat to the Public
If the judge finds a good reason to believe that your loved one is likely to cause anyone bodily harm or worse, bail will not be given. No court will grant this privilege to anyone suspected of doing a crime just for that person to commit more.
If your loved one fails to be granted bail, consult a bail bondsman to learn about your other options to secure his or her temporary freedom. Each case is different, so do not lose hope until you have exhausted all the possibilities.
