The time it takes a person to post bail and be freed largely depends on how busy the jail is; typically though, it will take a few hours at best.

A defendant, or someone on their behalf, may apply for a bail bond with a professional bail bond company as soon as the arraignment hearing has ended. They must wait for the arraignment because this is when they learn what the bail price is set at. The bail bond company needs this price in order to tell you how much they will charge you, which will be anywhere between 10 and 15 percent of that full price. The paperwork with the professional bail bond company can be done fairly quickly, perhaps a half hour or so. Then, it will be sent to the jail where the defendant is. Processing at the jail is what takes the most time, but within a few hours ...

When judges set a specific amount of money a defendant, or anyone on their behalf, must pay to the court to be released from jail, this is known as bail. This concept in the justice system has evolved over centuries and has quite the history.

Bail first began through the common laws of medieval England. The defendant would be relinquished from jail to a friend or relative (known as a surety) who would ensure the defendant appeared in court, instead of sitting in jail for many months. If the defendant failed to go to court, the surety would be punished and there was little protection and rights for the surety to prevent this compromising situation. Later on courts adopted the method of monetary bail payment to replace the concept of risking the relative or friend. The U.S. developed the