Behind the tape
Crimewriter and lawyer Neil White answers your legal procedure queries
How do I find out whether someone is likely to be let out on bail after being charged? I want this character under suspicion but out of prison so they can be involved in the action.
To answer your question, you need to resolve the first part of the equation: suspicion.
A person is charged when there is enough evidence to convict, ie, that the person is no longer a suspect but is firmly believed to be the actual offender, and is required to attend court.