Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Why the Bond Hearing Is the First Test in Any Criminal Case
Most people don’t realize how fast things move after an arrest in Chicago. One minute, someone is in the back of a squad car. The next, they’re standing before a judge while a prosecutor reads through their charges. What happens in those first 24 to 48 hours can determine whether someone goes home—or gets stuck in jail for weeks or months while the case moves through the system.
The bond hearing is not just a formality. It’s a critical step in the Illinois criminal justice process, and the outcome can influence everything that follows.
