Legal Question in Criminal Law in Michigan

You mean that you got CAUGHT breaking into cars? You mean that your BOND will be $200?

Defendants have a right for reasonable bond to be set by the court in all non-capital cases. Bond is a financial "hook" the court has on defendants to (try to) make sure that they show up for all future court cases. The more serious the change, the greater the defendant's flight risk, the more the public has to be protected from this defendant reoffending, etc. ... the higher the bond is set. Some bonds go into the millions of dollars, and some serious felonies have no bond set (meaning that the defendant stays in jail).

Some bonds require no up-front money paid (called personal recognizance bonds, or PR bonds). Some require you to post a percent of the bond (usually 10%), so for a $5,000 bond you have to fork over $500 to the court. Other bonds are cash/surety bonds where the full amount hat to be paid up-front or a licensed bondsman post the bond and you pay a non-refundable fee to the bondsman for taking this chance on you. (Think "Dog the Bounty Hunter".)

So, a $200 bond could be a $2,000/10% bond, it could mean a $200 cash bond, it could be a $200 PR bond. You don't tell us if this is a felony or a misdemeanor charge, so it's hard to decipher more from what you told us.

In the weeks to come ... after you have been arraigned in court (told what the charges are, told what the judge sets the bond at, covers whether you're asking for an appointed attorney), the future could involve you pleading guilty and being sentenced, or you pleading not guilty and a pre-trial conference being scheduled where the prosecutor talks to your attorney (or you if you don't have a lawyer) about the case issues, possible resolutions (plea bargains), etc.

Once you have been arraigned and paid the $200 bond, the Court will set a PRE-Trial date. I hope you will retain an attorney between now and then. Daniel Hajji 248.865.4700. Call our office and ask for me if you have any concerns or require outstanding legal representation. 248.865.4700.

You have a notice to appear and its time to visit your local police station where you will have your picture and your fingerprints taken. You'll then be taken over to court to be arraigned and post bond. If this is your first offense, your bond may be $200 but there's no guarantee it will be that low since it sounds like you're facing a 5 year felony. If it's a personal bond, you get to go home and wait for your next court date. If it's a cash bond and you don't have the cash or a surety, you'll go to jail to wait.

Don't delay or they may have to come and arrest you. If you're arrested, it's very unlikely that you'll bond out and you'll stay in jail until your case is fully resolved..

You don't appear to be able to defend yourself, so you better get a lawyer. The court will appoint one for you if you can't afford an attorney.