Bill > HB1149

This bill allows any court in Mississippi to permit a defendant to post a cash deposit as bail, which is a sum of money given to the court to ensure the defendant's appearance in court, instead of using a surety bond (a promise from a third party, like a bail bondsman) or a property bond (using real estate as collateral). This cash deposit must be at least 10% of the total bail amount, but only if the defendant meets certain requirements outlined in the Mississippi Rules of Criminal Procedure and signs a sworn statement confirming their eligibility. Before accepting any cash bail payment, the court clerk must provide the defendant with a written notice detailing their bail options, including the possibility of using a professional bail agent, and the defendant must sign an acknowledgment of receipt of this notice. This change aims to provide defendants with more flexibility in meeting bail requirements.