No, bail does not have to be cash. Depending on the jurisdiction, bail may be accepted in various forms, including money, property, or a bail bond.

The court may allow a defendant to provide a property bond, which involves using real estate or other property as collateral for the bail amount. This can be a good option for defendants who do not have the cash to pay their bail but have valuable assets that can be used as collateral.

In other cases, defendants may work with a bail bondsman to secure their release. The bail bondsman will pay the total amount of the bail on the defendant’s behalf in exchange for a non-refundable fee (typically around 10%).

While cash bail is a standard option, several other options are available depending on the circumstances of the case and the jurisdiction where the issue is being heard.