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Simple English definitions for legal terms
bail commissioner
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A quick definition of bail commissioner:
A bail commissioner is a person who helps decide how much money someone has to pay to get out of jail while they wait for their trial. They can do this quickly, even if it's not during regular court hours. They don't change the decision of other judges about bail. They can also be a person who takes a promise to pay money if someone doesn't show up for their court date in a civil case.
A more thorough explanation:
A bail commissioner is a person who has the authority to set bail for someone who has been arrested and cannot be released until bail is paid. There are two types of bail commissioners:
- A judge who can hold an emergency hearing to set bail when a hearing cannot be held during regular court hours. This judge does not review other judges' bail decisions.
- An officer appointed to take bail bonds.
For example, if someone is arrested on a Friday night and cannot see a judge until Monday, a bail commissioner can hold an emergency hearing to set bail so that the person can be released from jail. This is important because people should not have to stay in jail for days just because they cannot see a judge.
In the past, a bail commissioner was also a court-appointed officer who took recognizance of bail in civil cases. This means that they were responsible for making sure that people who were released on bail showed up for their court dates.