system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How does bail work? Can you use your own money?
gpt
Of course you can.

Bail is collateral. You give the government the money, and they say "we'll hold onto this till the trial. If you show up, then we give it back. If you don't, then we keep it." 

You can use your own money, but many people can't afford that so they have to get a loan.