A person who is in jail and cannot currently be released because the offense is termed a "no­bond" offense, must set a bond hearing in order to have a judge determine whether a bond should be set and, if so, what the amount of the bond should be. Unfortunately, the setting of a bond hearing often requires some time. Acquiring a public defender often entails a waiting period. It must also be determined, in accordance with the nature of the offense, which judge should conduct the hearing. Depending on the status of the offense and on whether the state has yet filed charges, the appropriate judge may be a county judge, a circuit court judge, or a judge who has been involved with the defendant in a prior case related to the current one. Setting a bond hearing can be relatively complicated for people who are unfamiliar with court proceedings. In addition to acquiring legal help and determining which judge will be appointed to the case, scheduling a bond hearing requires coordination with the court clerk, the judge, the judge's assistant, and the prosecution. For more information on bond hearings, contact a qualified attorney.