There is no bail in federal court cases and no system of bail bonds. Instead, these cases use what’s known as “pre-trial release”. Under pre-trial release, federal judges can approve or deny any request for release before trial. To deny a request, judges must articulate why they believe personal recognizance will not be enough to have defendants return for trial, or describe why defendants are a potential danger to the community. They may also grant a conditional release that includes specific limitations of movement or activity to ensure defendants’ appearance at trial.