Connecticut Bail: How Bail Works & How to Get Your Money Back

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One of the most common questions asked by a person posting bail, whether for themselves or someone else is “Do I get my bail money back?” Getting CT bail money back depends on a few different factors.

Here are the details you need to know about Connecticut Bail and bail repayment.

You Can, But Not Always

The good news is that in some situations, you can get Connecticut bond money back.

How and when depends on the person the CT bond was posted for, but if that person follows the rules of bail and shows up to court when they are supposed to show up, it is possible to get bond repayment.

To understand how that works, you need to have an understanding of the types of bail and how each one works.

Surety

With a surety bail posting, the payer remits a percentage of the total bail amount. That is called a “bail bond.” The premium paid is not refundable. It serves as a fee for the bail agent’s services and any work they have to do associated with the defendant to make sure they show up to all required court appearances.

Property Bond

This type of bail works when an individual puts up the value of property in exchange for the defendant’s release from custody. If the defendant breaks the bail requirements or fails to show up to court, that property can be seized under a court order.

This type of bail is not refundable because no actual cash was involved. After, while it is up to the discretion of the court, the property defaulted is not usually recoverable. In this case, the best strategy is to make sure the person bailed out adheres to all the rules and shows up to court when they are scheduled to do so.

Cash

Cash bail works exactly as it sounds. Bail is set, someone pays money to an agent to cover the bail and the person incarcerated is freed. If the person bailed out adheres to the rules of bail, and if certain legal conditions are met, cash bail will be refunded.

There are a few ways the person bailed out can lose that money (or lose it for the person who posted bail):

  • Fail to show up in court
  • Violate the bail conditions for release
  • Get arrested while out on bail

When Bail is Refunded

There are several legal stipulations that determine if the payee can get bail bond back:

Acquittal: This is when a person is found “not guilty” by a judge or jury. In that case, the bail bond is discharged and refunded.

Charges are Dropped: If the prosecutor decides not to press charges or they are dropped before trial, the bond will be discharged.

The Defendant Pleads Guilty: If the defendant enters a guilty plea to the charges, the bond is automatically discharged.

Additionally, if the case is determined in the following ways, bail can be recovered:

  • A diversionary program is granted by the court,
  • The charges are dismissed by a court,
  • The person bailed is sentenced.

In virtually every other situation, bail is not refundable, at least until the case is determined. Understanding how bail works will help you if you or someone you know needs bail posted. 

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