How to Bail Someone Out of Jail in Maryland
If someone you care about is sitting in a Maryland detention center right now, getting them out is probably the only thing on your mind. The bail process in Maryland involves commissioners, judges, cash bonds, and bail bondsmen, and it works a little differently depending on the county. This guide breaks down exactly how to post bail, what it costs, and what happens at each step. FrizWoods handles bail cases across Maryland and answers the phone 24/7.
Step 1: Find Out Where They Are Being Held
Before you can post bail, you need to confirm which detention center is holding your loved one. In Maryland, the facility depends on where the arrest happened:
- Prince George's County: PG County Detention Center, Upper Marlboro - How to bail someone out in PG County
- Howard County: Howard County Detention Center, Jessup - How to bail someone out in Howard County
- Anne Arundel County: Jennifer Road Detention Center, Annapolis - How to bail someone out in Anne Arundel County
- Calvert County: Calvert County Detention Center, Prince Frederick - How to bail someone out in Calvert County
Call the detention center directly and provide your loved one's full legal name and date of birth to confirm they are in custody. You can also use VineLink to check if they are currently in custody.
Step 2: Wait for the Commissioner Review
After booking, your loved one will see a commissioner. This is the first bail determination. Commissioners are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including weekends and holidays.
The commissioner reviews the charging documents and makes one of three decisions:
- Release on recognizance (ROR). Your loved one is released without posting any money. They sign a promise to appear at all future court dates.
- Cash bail. The commissioner sets a dollar amount that must be posted for release.
- Hold without bond. Your loved one stays in custody until a judge reviews the case.
If the commissioner sets a cash bail, you can proceed to post it right away. If they hold without bond, you will need to wait for the judge hearing.
Step 3: How to Post Cash Bail in Maryland
If a cash bail has been set, you have two options for posting it:
Option A: Post the Full Amount Yourself
You can go to the detention center and post the full bail amount in cash. For example, if bail is set at $10,000, you pay $10,000 directly to the facility.
The key advantage: you get this money back (minus any court fees) after the case is resolved, as long as the defendant appears at all court dates.
The key challenge: you need the full amount in cash, which many families cannot pull together quickly.
Option B: Use a Bail Bondsman
A bail bondsman posts the full bail amount on your behalf in exchange for a fee. The fee is typically around 10% of the total bail amount, and this fee is non-refundable.
For example:
- Bail set at $5,000 = bondsman fee of $500
- Bail set at $25,000 = bondsman fee of $2,500
- Bail set at $50,000 = bondsman fee of $5,000
The bondsman may also require collateral (like a car title or property deed) for larger bail amounts. Once the fee is paid and any paperwork is signed, the bondsman posts the bail and your loved one is released.
Bail bondsmen operate around the clock, including weekends and holidays. You can typically find one by searching for bail bonds near the detention center where your loved one is being held.
Step 4: What If Bail Is Too High or Denied?
If the commissioner sets a bail your family cannot afford, or holds your loved one without bond, the next step is a bail review hearing before a District Court judge.
This hearing takes place on the next business day the court is open. Bail hearing times vary by county:
- Prince George's County: 1:30 PM, Upper Marlboro, Room 261B
- Howard County: 11:00 AM, Ellicott City
- Anne Arundel County (Annapolis): 10:30 AM
- Anne Arundel County (Glen Burnie): 1:30 PM
- Calvert County (Prince Frederick): Around 9:45 AM
A judge has more release options than a commissioner, including:
- Reducing the cash bail amount
- Switching to an unsecured bond (no money upfront)
- Ordering pretrial supervision with conditions like GPS monitoring or drug testing
- Releasing on recognizance
This is where having a bail review lawyer matters most. An attorney can present a release plan, argue for reasonable conditions, and advocate directly to the judge. Defendants without representation at bail hearings consistently face worse outcomes.
Step 5: After Bail Is Posted
Once bail is posted and your loved one is released, there are important obligations to understand:
- Court dates are mandatory. Missing a court date can result in a bench warrant, forfeiture of bail money, and re-arrest.
- Release conditions must be followed. The judge may have imposed conditions like no contact with the alleged victim, curfew, drug testing, or pretrial supervision check-ins.
- Protective orders. In domestic violence cases, a protective order may be in effect. Violating it leads to immediate re-arrest.
- The bail money. If you posted the full amount yourself, it is returned after the case concludes (assuming all court dates were attended). If you used a bondsman, the fee is not returned.
Can You Bail Someone Out on the Weekend?
Yes. Commissioners are available 24/7, including weekends and holidays. If a cash bail is set on a Friday night, you can post it that same night.
However, if the commissioner denies bail or holds without bond, the judge hearing will not happen until the next business day the court is open. Weekend arrests that result in a hold without bond will wait until Monday for a judge review.
How Long Does the Whole Process Take?
Here is a general timeline:
- Booking: 1 to 8 hours depending on the county and volume
- Commissioner review: Usually within a few hours of booking completion
- Posting bail (if set): As soon as you can get to the detention center with the money or a bondsman
- Judge bail review (if needed): Next business day at the scheduled hearing time
- Release after posting: Usually 1 to 4 hours for processing after bail is posted
Common Bail Mistakes to Avoid
Not hiring a lawyer before the judge hearing
If the commissioner denies bail or sets an amount you cannot afford, do not go into the judge hearing without an attorney. This is your best (and sometimes only) chance at getting the bail reduced or getting a release on supervision. Call FrizWoods immediately.
Using a bondsman when you can post the full amount
If your family can pull together the full bail amount, posting it yourself saves you the bondsman fee. That money comes back to you at the end of the case.
Forgetting about court dates after release
Bail is not freedom. It is conditional release. If your loved one misses a single court date, the bail money is forfeited, a bench warrant is issued, and they go back to jail.
Discussing the case on jail calls before posting bail
While waiting for bail, your loved one may call you from the detention center. All of those calls are recorded. Do not discuss the case. Keep it to "We are working on bail" and "We hired a lawyer."
Why FrizWoods for Bail in Maryland
With offices in Prince George's County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, and Calvert County, FrizWoods responds quickly wherever the arrest happened.
- Max Frizalone is a former PG County prosecutor who has handled hundreds of bail hearings in Maryland courts.
- Luke Woods has over 20 years of criminal defense experience and regularly secures releases at bail hearings across the state.
When you call FrizWoods, you speak directly with an attorney who can explain the bail process, prepare for the hearing, and fight for your loved one's release.
Call FrizWoods Now - 24/7 Bail Help
If someone you care about is in a Maryland jail right now, contact us immediately. We answer day and night and can have an attorney at the next bail hearing.
(301) 720-1917 | (410) 346-9384
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to bail someone out of jail in Maryland?
It depends on the bail amount set by the commissioner or judge. If you post bail yourself, you pay the full amount and get it back when the case ends. If you use a bail bondsman, you typically pay around 10% of the total bail, which is non-refundable.
Can I bail someone out of jail at night or on weekends?
Yes. Commissioners are available 24/7. If a cash bail is set, you can post it at the detention center at any time, day or night. Bail bondsmen also operate around the clock.
What if I cannot afford the bail?
If the bail is too high, a defense attorney can request a bail review hearing before a judge and argue for a lower amount, an unsecured bond, or pretrial supervision. Do not assume the commissioner's decision is final.
How long does it take to get someone out after posting bail?
After bail is posted, the release process typically takes 1 to 4 hours. The detention center needs to process the paperwork and complete the release.
Do I get my bail money back?
If you posted the full cash bail yourself, yes, the money is returned after the case is resolved, as long as the defendant attended all court dates. If you used a bail bondsman, the fee is not refundable.
What happens if the person misses a court date after being bailed out?
A bench warrant will be issued for their arrest, and the bail money may be forfeited. If a bondsman posted the bail, the bondsman may also take action to locate and surrender the defendant.
Should I hire a lawyer before posting bail?
Yes. An attorney can advise you on the best approach, whether to post bail immediately or wait for a judge hearing where the bail might be reduced. A lawyer at the judge hearing can also argue for better release conditions.
Related Pages
- Just arrested? Read Someone Was Arrested in Maryland - What Do I Do Now?
- Need hearing representation? See our Bail Hearings Representation page.
- Charged with DUI? Visit our Maryland DUI Defense page.
- Domestic violence arrest? Learn about Domestic Assault Defense.