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 Rhode Island, bail is a legal mechanism used to ensure that a person accused of a crime can be released from jail while awaiting trial, with the condition that they will return for their court appearances. The right to bail is rooted in the presumption of innocence and the importance of allowing the accused to prepare a defense. Rhode Island state statutes and federal law dictate that bail should not be excessive, in line with the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. During a bail hearing, a judge in Rhode Island will consider factors such as the risk the accused poses to themselves or others, the likelihood of the accused appearing for trial, and the severity of the offense to determine whether to grant bail and at what amount. The judge may also impose additional conditions for bail to further ensure the accused's appearance at trial. The state's bail system aims to balance the accused's right to freedom before conviction with the government's interest in securing the accused's presence at trial.