The Judge Let Me Post A Bail Bond. How Long Can The Police Hold Me After I Pay It?

One single question that BailOption representatives get asked all the time is how long can the police hold me after the judge let me post a bail bond? The answer here varies from case to case. The judge might be overwhelmed, but there are other factors involved in releasing the defendant from jail. They include:

TRAFFIC

As with other bureaucracies, jail process times depend mainly on how busy the jail is. If you posted bail and that particular jailhouse has many defendants, it could take half the day to get them out. The traffic amount greatly impacts how long it takes to get out of jail!

STAFF

Imagine if you went to the DMV on a Monday morning, but only two people were working. Think of that scenario in a crowded jailhouse where the person is held with two officers on duty. The number of staff working when you post bail affects how fast the release is processed.

PAPERWORK

There’s a lot of paperwork involved when bailing out the defendant. Many times, the officer who oversees the release on the bond must check everything closely before they can release the person. This adds to the wait time because most officers must make sure that they don’t let a defendant go who might have multiple warrants.

LUCK OF THE DRAW

Bond times are often like the lottery. Once bail is posted, the person’s name is added in with the other detainees who also posted bail in their order of when the bond was received.

It’s pure luck that your loved one is the first for posted bail and that their name is at the top of that list. If that’s the case, the bond is completed soon. Otherwise, they’re at the bottom of the list and must wait longer periods. Though the court system isn’t perfect, that’s how it’s been for many decades.

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