保釈金(ほしゃくきん)

ほしゃくきん
noun
bail money; bail bond
law
1. bail money; bail bond
Money deposited with the court to secure the temporary release of a person awaiting trial.
保釈金(ほしゃくきん)を払(はら)った。
The bail money was paid.
保釈金(ほしゃくきん)は一千万円(いっせんまんえん)に設定(せってい)された。
Bail was set at ten million yen.
If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail money is forfeited.

A compound of 保釈(ほしゃく) (bail/release on bail) and 金(きん) (money). In Japan, bail is granted much less frequently than in many Western countries. Japan's criminal justice system has a very high conviction rate, and suspects are often detained throughout the investigation and trial process. When bail is granted, the amounts can be substantial — often tens of millions of yen for serious cases.

The 保釈金(ほしゃくきん) is returned if the defendant complies with all bail conditions and appears for trial.

Common collocations

Related words