A bond hearing in Michigan is a court proceeding at which a judge decides whether someone accused of a crime can be released from custody and under what conditions. This hearing usually takes place shortly after arrest, but may be later. The amount of bond (often called “bail”) depends on factors such as the severity of the offense, criminal history of the accused, flight risk, public safety risk, and other factors. Having a defense attorney at this hearing can improve the likelihood of bond being granted and may help reduce the amount of bond.