Bail refers to cash bail that you post for the release of a criminal Defendant to get him/her out of jail. Bond is an Insurance Bond issued instead of Bail, for which you will pay an insurance premium and have to post collateral to assure the Bondsman you will lose it if you fail to appear in Court. You will pay 3% of the amount of Cash Bail posted to Bail someone out and it gets released about 3 weeks after sentencing.