No, you do not have to pay the total amount of bail to be released from jail while you await your trial. In many cases, defendants cannot pay the full bail amount, which can be thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.

Instead of paying the full bail amount, defendants can work with a bail bondsman. The bail bondsman will charge a non-refundable fee (usually around 10% of the total bail amount) in exchange for posting the full bail amount with the court. This allows the defendant to be released from jail while awaiting trial.

The fee paid to the bail bondsman is non-refundable, even if the defendant attends all required court hearings and the bail money is returned at the end of the trial. Additionally, defendants who work with a bail bondsman may be required to provide collateral, such as property or assets, to secure the bond.

Working with a bail bondsman can allow defendants to be released from jail while they await their trial, even if they cannot afford to pay their full bail amount. Consider the terms of the bail bond agreement carefully and understand the potential risks and consequences before entering it.