What is an appearance bond?

An appearance bond is defined as a type of bond where the defendant makes a promise to appear in court for their trial in exchange for being released from custody. This bond serves as a financial assurance to the court that the defendant will attend all required court proceedings related to their case. If the defendant fails to appear, the bond may be forfeited, and the court could issue a warrant for their arrest.

This definition highlights the fundamental purpose of an appearance bond as a mechanism to ensure court attendance, differentiating it from other types of bonds that may not impose such requirements. For instance, some bonds might guarantee freedom without any obligation to appear in court, or they could only pertain to specific situations like traffic court or pre-trial releases. Understanding this helps clarify the unique role appearance bonds play in the judicial process.