Bond or bail is an amount set by the judge to ensure that your presence throughout the case. For instance, if you receive a five-thousand-dollar bond and pay that money (plus some fees) to the Sheriff’s Office, you will be released and at the end of the case get your money back (except for fees they add on). People often use a bonding company, where you pay a smaller amount to the company and they pay your bond to the sheriff’s office, but you do not get that money back. This is referred to as “good,” “surety” or “straight” bond. Sometimes the judge may not require any money and permit a “signature bond,” “release on recognizance” or “unsecured judicial release” and you do not have to pay anything.