We know George Zimmerman will be charged. Here’s what will happen next on the State Court level. There are now certain formalities that must take place as required by the US and Florida Constitutions. He will either be arrested or have an opportunity to turn himself in. An arrest is a good bet. But there are certain benefits to his turning himself in while accompanied by a lawyer.


He will be arraigned within a short period of time where a Judge or Magistrate will tell him what the charges are, the possible penalties, and set a bond. When setting a bond the official looks at the gravity of the crime, community connections, employment, criminal history, flight risk, substance abuse, and the like. It is also a positive if a lawyer comes in and explains how these factors apply to his client.


Were Zimmerman “disappeared” to will have a bearing on any bond. If he left the state, then all bets for a bond are off. If bond is granted, it can be personal recognizance, meaning that Zimmerman promises to attend all future court hearings or face a big monetary payment and probable immediate incarceration. Not likely here. It can be a cash/surety bond, meaning that he has to get a bondsman to post the bond or the defendant must post the entire bond amount with the Court. This is possible., In some states, there is a cash/or percentage bond set. This means that he can put up a percentage of the bond with the court and if he doesn’t show up later he forfeits the entire bond amount.