The surety system of bail has proven to be very effective. It allows a person charged with a crime to keep their job, maintain their family life, and assist their attorney more easily in developing their defense. All for much less than the total amount of the bail. Between 1990 and 2004, 62% of felony defendants in State courts in the 75 largest counties were released prior to the disposition of their case.

In a report entitled "Pretrial Release of Felony Defendants in State Courts" released on November 19, 2007 and revised January 17, 2008 by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics; the Department of Justice confirmed that of all defendants released through some type of pretrial program, twenty-eight percent (28%) failed to appear in court. Only nineteen percent (19%) of defendants released on surety bond failed to appear, compared to thirty percent (30%) released on some sort of unsecured bond. After a year, only three percent (3%) of defendants released on surety bond were fugitives, compared to eight percent (8%) of those released on unsecured bond.

It is worth noting that recovery of surety bond bail jumpers(fugitives), is accomplished for the most part, at no cost to the taxpayers. The bail agent responsible for the posted bond is diligent in the recovery effort.