If you have been charged with a crime, or if you are seeking information on behalf of a friend or loved one, navigating the bail system in Washington State can be daunting. Familiarizing yourself with bail bonds and the bail process is a crucial step in ensuring a quick release for you or your loved one from custody.
The Bail Process in Washington State
The exact phrasing of the law is different, but in general, the State of Washington’s bail laws are in line with much of the rest of the United States. Washington is a “Right to Bail” state, Article I Section 20 of the Washington Constitution explicitly states that all criminal defendants “shall be bailable by sufficient sureties,” except when the charge is a capital crime or if the crime is punishable by the possibility of life in prison. This means that all defendants are guaranteed to have a total bail amount set unless they are charged with a crime that would result in a life sentence or whether they have committed an extremely serious crime, and their release would be a clear danger to the community.
When someone is arrested and charged with a crime, they are typically brought before a judge for an initial appearance during which, the judge determines a total bail amount for the committed crime based on various factors. According to the State of Washington’s criminal rules for courts of limited jurisdiction, these factors include:
- Prior bench warrants
- Employment, family & community ties
- Enrollment in school, counseling, treatment, or volunteer activities
- Reputation, character, mental condition
- Length of residency in the State of Washington
- Criminal record
- Willingness of a responsible community member to vouch for reliability and assist in compliance with release conditions
- Nature of the charge if relevant to the risk of appearance
If the defendant or their loved ones can afford to pay the total bail amount, the defendant can be released from custody, with the understanding that the money will be returned if the defendant adheres to the stipulations of bail and attends all court dates. However, in many cases, the total bail amount is beyond the financial means of the defendant and their family. If this is the case for you or your family, learning more about how a local, reputable bail bondsman can help you is crucial.
Understanding Bail Bonds in Washington State
If the total bail amount is financially burdensome, individuals often turn to a local, reputable bail bondsman for assistance. Bail bonds in Washington State work similarly to the rest of the country. A bail bondsman provides bail services by posting bond on behalf of the defendant, guaranteeing that they will return to court on the agreed-upon date. This process allows the defendant to secure their release from jail while awaiting trial. For this service, a bail bonds company typically charges a non-refundable fee, commonly around 10% of the total bail amount.
If you have been granted a total bail amount, use our online Bail Bond Fee Calculator to determine the non-refundable fee you’ll have to pay a bail bondsman to be released from jail in Washington State. Also take a moment to search our extensive database of trusted bail professionals near you, who are ready and able to provide you with bail bonds services 24 hours a day!