Different Types of Bonds

Any person taken into custody for any offense for this court is entitled to bond. The purpose of bond is to insure the appearance of the defendant in court. Alabama State law limits the maximum bond amount in Municipal Court to $1,000 for each separate offense; however an appeal bond may be set at twice the amount of fine and costs assessed. There are two kinds of custodial arrest - arrests under a warrant and arrests without a warrant. If you are arrested under a warrant the bond amount and type will be affixed to the warrant. If you are arrested without a warrant, please see the bond schedule.

The types of bonds are defined below:

• Cash Bond - A cash bond is when the defendant or someone acting on behalf of the defendant deposits cash for bail. Money orders, cashier's check, or travelers check may be accepted in lieu of cash. If you are charged with a failure to appear in court or a probation violation, you must use this type of bond.
• Judicial Public Bond - This type of bail is also known as a signature bond or release on own recognizance; upon signing his bond, the defendant is released without any posted security. This type of bond is rarely used and must be authorized by the Judge or the magistrate court director.
• Professional Bonding / Surety - A professional bonding company or surety is a person, individual proprietor, partnership, corporation or other entity, that furnishes bond or becomes a surety for a defendant on that defendant's appearance and does so for valuable consideration.
• Property Bond - A property bond is when two or more property owners in Jefferson or Shelby County use their property to secure the defendant's release. The pledged property's unencumbered value must be equal to or above the amount required for the appearance bond. The property bond requires two different property owners who each own property in Jefferson or Shelby County. The property owner must present valid identification and their latest Jefferson or Shelby County tax receipt. The property owner must fill out a property bond application and all persons listed on the tax receipt must sign the appearance bond.
• Signature Bond - This type of bail is also known as a release on own recognizances; upon signing their bond, the defendant is released without any posted security. 

Prior to the release from custody mandatory conditions are placed on the bond. These conditions order the defendant to appear in court and to promptly notify the court of any change in address. Additional conditions may be placed on the bond for certain offenses such as domestic violence.

Failure to Appear

If a defendant fails to appear forfeiture proceedings are initiated.

You may be eligible to post a bond online.