
How much does bail cost?
Depends. The harsher the crime, the higher the bail. In fact, in most instances, states or towns, there is a bail schedule, which assigns a bail amount depending on the offense. In Los Angeles, for instance, the bail for perjury or sexual assault is $25,000; for manslaughter, it is $100,000, and for kidnapping with the intent to rape, it is $1,000,000. So, as you can see, bail is not cheap. Judges don’t necessarily have to abide by a bail schedule, however; a judge may raise or lower bail, or — if it’s a petty crime, waive the bail and release you under your own recognizance.