Getting out of Jail in Alabama
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Many people who have been arrested and sent to jail on a DUI charge have never been to jail before. Many don’t know what to expect or how the process of getting out works. Here is what you need to know about getting out of an Alabama jail.

The usual way to be set free from jail is to post bail. Bail is simply cash or a cash equivalent that an arrested person gives to a court to ensure that he or she will appear in court when ordered to do so. If the arrested person attends court when told, the court will refund this bail money. However, if the person doesn’t show up to court, the court will keep the money and issue a warrant for his or her arrest.

So who sets the bail amount? Judges. Many people don’t want to wait days to see a judge –they want to get out of jail pronto! Therefore, most jails have standard bail schedules that specify bail amounts for common crimes. An arrested person can get out of jail quickly by paying the amount set forth in the bail schedule.

Here’s a little reminder regarding the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: bail must not be excessive. It cannot be used as a way to punish someone for committing a crime or for raising money for the government. Remember: The purpose of bail is to give an arrested person freedom until he or she is convicted of a crime. The amount of bail must be no more than is reasonably necessary to keep the person from fleeing before a case is over.

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