Quirest,
If you are charged with a criminal or traffic offence and you will be attending court, you will need to understand what bail is.
Bail is a written promise, known as a bail undertaking, that you will come to a certain court at a particular time and date and abide by any conditions included in the undertaking. It is also a promise that if you do not come to court when you are supposed to, that you will still come as soon after that as you possibly can.
Bail may be set by the police or the court. Once you are in court for a particular charge, only the court can set bail for you in relation to that charge. The court can change or remove bail set by the police in relation to that charge.
When you appear in court, bail will only be necessary if you have to come back to court on a later date. If your matter is finished on your first appearance in court, bail will not need to be considered or imposed by the court.
The court may not require you to enter into a bail undertaking in every case. This will depend on the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances of your case.
If you are required to enter into a bail undertaking, you must sign the undertaking and you will be given a copy of it before you leave court.
What are bail conditions?
Every bail undertaking includes a promise to attend a certain court at a particular time and date.
Some undertakings include other conditions as well. Any other conditions will be explained to you when you are in court and will be included in your written bail undertaking.
If you have a surety condition imposed on you, your surety must also sign the undertaking and will be given a copy of the undertaking
