An Appearance Bond (also known as a bail bond) is a type of surety bond posted by a defendant in a criminal case to guarantee the defendant's appearance in court when required. The bond is provided by the defendant or a friend or family member acting as a guarantor, and is set by a court to ensure the defendant's appearance in court and to protect the public from potential harm. Appearance Bonds can be either non-secured or secured, depending on the type of bond and the jurisdiction. Non-secured Appearance Bonds are typically used in cases where the defendant is not considered a flight risk, and the bond is simply a promise that the defendant will appear in court as ordered. In a secured Appearance Bond, the defendant or guarantor posts collateral, such as cash, real estate, or other assets, to ensure that the bond is fulfilled. If the defendant fails to appear in court as ordered, the court can seize the collateral. Other types of Appearance Bonds include cash-only bonds and surety bonds. Cash-only bonds require the defendant or guarantor to pay the entire amount of the bond in cash, which is then held in an escrow account by the court until the bond is fulfilled. In a surety bond, a third-party surety company guarantees the bond, and the defendant or guarantor pays a fee to the surety company, which is typically a percentage of the total bond amount.