In Hamilton County, a jail stay can start with a momentary slip of judgment or a false accusation, but getting out can be much more complicated, according to Jason Clark, the Criminal Court Clerk’s chief of staff.
Arrests happen every day, and families often find themselves scrambling to understand how the bail system works. As of Thursday, the Criminal Court Clerk’s office administrator, Jason Jones, said officials have $42 million in bonds out in Criminal Court alone, not counting the municipalities. The county is owed around $60 million in past bonds, court fees and other costs, officials said.
Bail is the money that secures a person’s release from jail, Clark said, and it’s held by the court to guarantee the person’s appearance in court. A bond is one way to pay that amount, either in full through cash or with help from a licensed company.
There are several ways to get released from jail before your court date, Jones said. Jailed individuals can be released on recognizance, cash bail, bail bonds or with property liens, he said.
Jones advises against property liens.