How does the bail amount typically relate to the severity of the crime?

The bail amount is designed as a financial assurance that the defendant will appear in court for their scheduled hearings. In practice, this amount is generally correlated with the severity of the crime. For more serious offenses, which may include violent crimes or major felonies, bail amounts will typically be set higher. This reflects the greater potential risk to public safety and the court's interest in ensuring that individuals charged with serious crimes are compelled to attend their court appearances.

In contrast, less serious offenses, such as minor misdemeanors, usually result in lower bail amounts because the perceived risk associated with the defendant is lower. Thus, the relationship between bail amounts and crime severity serves both to deter repeat offenses and to uphold the integrity of the judicial process by ensuring that those accused of more serious crimes do not simply abscond before their trial. This principle helps maintain a system where the severity of the charges can influence the terms of release on bail.