Without bail bonds, people who have been arrested are kept in jail until arraignment and possibly until trial. At the arraignment the defendant is brought before a judge to hear the charges and enter a plea.  While arraignment may be “only” three business days away, sometimes less, this can mean close to a week in jail waiting when weekends and holidays are considered. Jobs, homes and families suffer, not to mention the traumatic and frightening experience of incarceration.

Instead, most defendants post a bail bond so they can continue with their regular lives until the trial is finished.  When released …