The courts
bail
The conditions for releasing an accused person before trial, which may include money. The Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail but does not guarantee release.
In full
Federal law directs release on the least restrictive conditions that will assure appearance and public safety, and allows detention without bail for certain serious offenses after a hearing. State systems vary enormously, and cash bail's effect of detaining people because they are poor rather than dangerous has driven reform efforts in many states.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.