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Rule 525 – Bail Bond

May 14, 2021 | Criminal Procedure, Pennsylvania

(A) A bail bond is a document whereby the defendant agrees that while at liberty after being released on bail, he or she will appear at all subsequent proceedings as required and comply with all the conditions of the bail bond.
(B) At the time the bail is set, the bail authority shall

(1) have the bail bond prepared; and
(2) sign the bail bond verifying the conditions the bail authority imposed.
(C) If the defendant is unable to post bail at the time bail is set, when the bail authority commits the defendant to jail, he or she shall send the prepared and verified bail bond and the other necessary paperwork with the defendant to the place of incarcertation.
(D) When the defendant is going to be released, the defendant, and, when applicable, one or more sureties, shall sign the bail bond. The official who releases the defendant also shall sign the bail bond witnessing the defendant’s signature.
(E) The bail bond shall set forth the type or combination of types of release, the conditions of release ordered by the bail authority, the conditions of the bail bond set forth in Rule 526(A), and the consequences of failing to appear or failing to comply with all the conditions of the bail bond.
(F) The defendant shall not be released until he or she signs the bail bond.
(G) After the defendant signs the bail bond, a copy of the bail bond shall be given to the defendant, and the original shall be included in the record.

234 Pa. Code ยง 525

Committee Explanatory Reports:

Final Report explaining the provisions of the new rule published with Court’s Order at 25 Pa.B. 4116 (September 30, 1995) .

Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court’s Order at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000) .

Final Report explaining the June 30, 2005 changes clarifying the bail authority’s responsibility concerning the preparation of the bail bond published with the Court’s Order at 35 Pa.B. 3911 (July 16, 2005) .