Constitution: The Right Against Cruel and Unusual Punishment. (Ratified on December 15th, 1791)
“Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”
In U.S. Courts, defendants have a right to reasonable bail being set. At this stage, the person is simply accused of the crime and not yet convicted. English common law, which is the basis
for most U.S. law, allows for a defendant in a criminal (and some civil) matters to remain free during the period of time that it takes to have a trial. This allows the defendant to work with an attorney to better prepare a defense against the charges that they face. There are several different types of Appearance Bonds that may be required by the court.
