When a person is arrested in California, they may have the option to post bail and be released from jail while awaiting their trial. But what exactly is bail, and how does it work in California? In this article, we will cover the basics of bail in California, including the process of setting bail, types of bail, and how to post bail.
At The Bail Boys Bail Bonds, we understand your fear and uncertainty and weβll do everything we can to help you manage the bail process so you can get back to life.
Bail is a financial agreement between the court and a defendant that allows the defendant to be released from jail while awaiting their trial. The bail amount is set by a judge and is meant to ensure that the defendant appears in court for their trial. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail money is forfeited and a warrant is issued for their arrest.
If youβre arrested in California and taken to jail, a judge in the county you were arrested in determines your bond amount. A Bail Boys Bail Bonds agent will then charge you 10% of the bail amount to secure your release from jail. This is a standard rate that is determined by the State of California. We also offer options that allow for between 0% and 2% of the bail amount for qualifying defendants. As long as the cosigner and payment method for your bail meet our requirements the bail process is fairly quick and easy.
There are several types of bail available in California, including:
Cash bail is the most common type of bail in California. To post cash bail, the defendant or someone on their behalf must pay the full amount of the bail in cash to the court. If the defendant appears in court as required, the bail money is returned at the end of the trial.
A bail bond is a contract between the defendant, a bail bond agent, and the court. The defendant or someone on their behalf pays a non-refundable fee to the bail bond agent, who then posts a bond with the court for the full amount of the bail. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail bond agent is responsible for paying the full amount of the bail.
A property bond is a type of bail where the defendant or someone on their behalf uses their property as collateral for the bail amount. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the court can foreclose on the property to pay the bail amount.
The requirements for posting someoneβs bail are fairly simple. First and foremost, the cosigner must be a legal U.S. resident who is 18 years old or older. Beyond this most basic requirement, there are also three things youβll have to bring along when posting bail.
Youβll also need to be able to provide the following information:
You can pay a defendantβs bail using a variety of methods including:
Typically, it only takes around 20 minutes for the bail paperwork to be processed.
That depends upon where the person was arrested and the facility that theyβre being held in. However, most jails release bonded defendants within 4 hours. In some cases, the defendant may be released in as little as half an hour.
If youβre willing to post someoneβs bail, you take on a certain amount of responsibility, beyond your financial input. Youβll also be responsible for:
A defendant that has been bailed out of jail is responsible for their own actions after being released. Defendants are expected to take on the following responsibilities:
No, you are not responsible for making sure the defendant complies with the terms of their bail bond agreement. However, if youβre worried they wonβt, it may be a good idea for you to be there to make sure.
No, you wonβt get a refund for your payment. Our bail fees are non-refundable unless thereβs a reason we are unable to post the bond for certain reasons. If bail cannot be posted, you may be entitled to a refund.
There are several personal and legal benefits for a defendant who has been bailed out of jail.
Bail Boys Bail Bonds offers bail bond services from several locations the Los Angeles area. In fact, we have 8 locations in Los Angeles County and another location in Ventura County, so weβre always close by when you need us.
If you, or a loved one has been arrested and you need the help of a professional bail bond agent, donβt hesitate to call Bail Boys Bail Bonds at 800-798-7366 or contact us online to get the help you need. We know youβre stressed and worried and weβll make the bail process as easy as possible for you so you can focus on what really matters to you. Weβre available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays.
The Bail Boys is an affordable bail bonds company with over 20 years of experience, thousands Californian's served, and hundreds of humbling 5 star reviews. We work extremely hard to ensure the content on our website is accurate and up to date. With that said, the information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation.Β
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