by 
When someone is charged with a crime and is awaiting trial, they usually have the option of posting bail instead of sitting in a jail cell for weeks or months at a time. For many people, this can be a lifesaver. Spending that much time locked up can completely ruin someone’s life. People have lost their jobs, their homes, and their spouses while they’ve waited for their trial to conclude. If they are able to post bail, they are able to go home, fulfill their responsibilities, and otherwise live their lives.
They will still need to report to trial when that time comes, but they won’t have to sit in a jail cell until then.
If someone is unable to post bail themselves, they can always hire a bail bondsman. With bail bonding, a bondsman posts bail on behalf of the defendant and charges the defendant with a percentage of the bond. The bondsman keeps the fee as payment, while the bond is paid back when the case comes to trial. This can be incredibly helpful when the defendant would be unable to post bail on their own.
