Who are the typical parties to an Ohio bail bond agreement?

• A. The defendant and the court.
• B. The defendant, the indemnitor, the bail bond company (surety), and the court.
• C. The defendant and a private attorney.
• D. The indemnitor and the prosecutor.

Answer: (B)

In Ohio, a bail bond is a contract that includes four parties: the defendant who is charged; the indemnitor (often a family member or friend) who promises to cover the bond if the defendant doesn’t appear; the bail bond company or surety that posts the bond with the court; and the court, which approves the bond and oversees its terms. The indemnitor’s obligation to pay or forfeit the bond is what gives the surety a financial backing, while the court holds the authority to release the defendant once the bond is posted and to revoke it if conditions aren’t met. The private attorney and the prosecutor aren’t parties to the bail bond agreement, which is why the other options don’t fit.