When a person is charged, the immediate question is whether they stay free or are held in custody while the case proceeds. Bail is the answer to that question, and it is one of the first things a solicitor handles for a client — at the police station, at the first court hearing, and at every stage after. Getting it right shapes everything that follows, so you need to know when bail must be granted, when it can be refused, and what conditions can be attached.
This lesson takes you through bail from start to finish:
- Framework and the Right to Bail — what bail is, where it arises, and the general right that makes release the default.
- Grounds for Refusing Bail — the exceptions that let a court withhold bail and the factors it must weigh.
- Conditional Bail — the conditions a court can impose, and how sureties and securities work.
- Bail at the Police Station and Recording Decisions — the custody officer's powers and the duty to give reasons.
- Renewing and Appealing Bail Decisions — making further applications and challenging the outcome.
- Breach and Failure to Surrender — what happens when a defendant misses court or breaks a condition.
- Remand and Custody Time Limits — how long someone can be held and the credit for time served.
- Bail Pending Appeal and Remand for Children — the tighter rules after conviction and for young defendants.