When is the bail amount typically set by the court?

The bail amount is typically set by the court after an arraignment. During this critical stage in the criminal justice process, the defendant is formally charged and given the opportunity to enter a plea. It is at this point that the court evaluates various factors, including the nature of the crime, the defendant's criminal history, and flight risk, to determine an appropriate bail amount. This is essential for balancing the defendant's right to pre-trial freedom against the need to ensure their appearance in court.

Setting bail at the arraignment allows for a fair assessment of the situation based on the specifics of the case rather than making a decision immediately upon arrest, where details may not yet be fully known to the court. After sentencing, the focus shifts to the consequences of the verdict rather than pre-trial release, which is not relevant to bail decisions. Additionally, jury selection pertains to the trial process and does not involve setting bail, making it an unrelated stage to the bail determination.