bail bond

A three-party contract which involves state, accused and surety and under which surety guarantees state that accused will appear at subsequent proceedings. Accredited Surety & Cas. Co., Inc. v. State, for Use and Benefit of Hillsborough County, Fla.App., 383 So.2d 308.

A written undertaking, executed by the defendant or one or more sureties, that the defendant designated in such instrument will, while at liberty as a result of an order fixing bail and of the execution of a bail bond in satisfaction thereof, appear in a designated criminal action or proceeding when his attendance is required and otherwise render himself amenable to the orders and processes of the court, and that in the event he fails to do so, the signers of the bond will pay to the court (i.e. forfeit) the amount of money specified in the order fixing bail. Fed.R.Crim.P. 46; 18 U.S.C.A. No. 3141 et seq.

See also release on own recognizance

- bail

@ cash bail bond

A sum of money, in the amount designated in an order fixing bail, posted by a defendant or by another person on his behalf (surety) with a court or other authorized public officer upon condition that such money will be forfeited if the defendant does not comply with the directions of a court requiring his attendance at the criminal action or proceeding involved and does not otherwise render himself amenable to the orders and processes of the court.

@ unsecured bail bond

A bail bond for which the defendant is fully liable upon failure to appear in court when ordered to do so or upon breach of a material condition of release, but which is not secured by any deposit of or lien upon property.

See release on own recognizance

@