Short answer. Bail may be given in the form of corporate surety, property bond, cash deposit, or recognizance. It is the security furnished by the person in custody or a bondsman to guarantee the person's appearance before the court whenever required under the conditions set.
What the law says
Bail is the security given for the release of a person in custody of the law, furnished by him or a bondsman, to guarantee his appearance before any court as required under the conditions hereinafter specified. Bail may be given in the form of corporate surety, property bond, cash deposit, or recognizance.
Rule 114, Section 1 — Bail defined. Read the full provision →
Bail is a security for appearance, not a payment for freedom
The definition is precise about what bail actually is: the security given for the release of a person in custody of the law, meant to guarantee his appearance before any court as required. It is furnished either by the accused personally or by a bondsman acting on their behalf, and its purpose is ensuring the accused shows up when the court requires it, not simply buying release from custody.
Four recognized forms of bail
The rule lists exactly four forms bail may take: corporate surety, property bond, cash deposit, or recognizance. A corporate surety involves a bonding company guaranteeing the accused's appearance; a property bond pledges real property as security; a cash deposit puts up money directly; and recognizance releases the accused on the undertaking of a responsible person or entity, without necessarily requiring cash or property up front.
Which form is used affects what is actually at stake
The choice among these forms matters because each ties up a different kind of asset, or relies on a different kind of guarantee, to secure the accused's appearance. A cash deposit ties up money directly; a property bond puts real property at risk; a corporate surety shifts the financial exposure to the bonding company; and recognizance relies on personal or institutional accountability rather than tying up money or property at all, which is why it is not always readily available to every accused person in every case.
Why this matters for someone arranging bail
Knowing that bail is not limited to a cash payment can matter a great deal to someone who does not have ready cash but does have property, or who may qualify for release on recognizance instead. Understanding which of these four forms is actually available, and appropriate, in a given case is a real, practical question — not simply a matter of how much money is on hand, but of what assets or standing a person can actually offer as security.