Bail is a legal process by which an arrested individual is able to obtain freedom from police custody by paying a set amount of money. The exact dollar amount is determined by a judge, who will consider a variety of factors, such as prior criminal history, the seriousness of the crime, flight risk, the potential threat that the person poses to the community, and more. This payment works as a deposit and a condition of release. Essentially, the individual promises to appear in court for any schedule criminal proceedings and is subject to arrest and the loss of the bail amount if they fail to abide by this promise.