Bail is an amount of cash or bond a person accused of a criminal offense must deliver to the court to be released from jail following the person’s arrest for a crime—with the promise by the accused to return to court for trial. Because a person generally has a right to the presumption of innocence and to be free from punishment prior to conviction—and because freedom before conviction helps the accused prepare a defense to the charge of a criminal offense—there are limits on the government’s right to incarcerate an accused before trial.

The competing interests of an accused’s right to freedom before conviction and the state or federal government’s interest in assuring the accused will be present for trial—and for any punishment upon conviction (jail, prison, etc.)—are facilitated by the bail process. The accused’s right to release before trial is conditioned upon the accused giving adequate assurance that he will stand trial (be physically present) and submit to the sentence (punishment) if found guilty.

The modern practice of requiring a bail bond or the deposit of a sum of money (cash bail) that is subject to forfeiture serves as an additional assurance that the accused will appear for trial. But bail set at a figure higher than an amount reasonably calculated to fulfill this purpose is excessive and violates the Eight Amendment to the United States Constitution—which provides that “excessive bail shall not be required.”

During the bail hearing the judge determines whether the accused should be allowed to post bail and be released from jail before and during the trial—based in part on whether the accused presents a threat to himself or others if released from custody, and whether the accused will likely appear for trial, or will be a flight risk and likely not appear for trial. And if the judge does grant the accused bail, the judge determines or sets the amount of the bail required and any other conditions of the bail.

In Iowa, bail is a legal mechanism that allows an accused individual to be released from jail while awaiting trial, upon providing a certain amount of cash or bond to the court as a guarantee of their return for court proceedings. The right to bail is rooted in the presumption of innocence and the importance of allowing the accused to prepare a defense. Iowa's bail system aims to balance the accused's right to freedom before conviction against the state's interest in ensuring the accused's presence at trial and for sentencing if convicted. The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits excessive bail, meaning bail amounts must be reasonable and not punitive. During a bail hearing in Iowa, a judge will consider factors such as the accused's potential threat to public safety and the likelihood of appearing for trial when deciding whether to grant bail and at what amount. The judge may also impose additional conditions for bail to further ensure the accused's compliance with the trial process.