According to the American Action Forum, most people are held pre-trial because they cannot afford their bail. It can lead to unnecessary strain on your family, career, and finances. Fortunately, by working with seasoned bondsmen, you can regain your freedom and enjoy its benefits. At Cali Bail Bonds, we understand the challenges linked to being detained and can work with you regardless of your financial situation. We take pride in making the process convenient and straightforward by offering flexible payment plans tailored to get you released quickly.
If you've been arrested, the arraignment (first court hearing) might be the hearing to determine the bail amount. Bail is the amount you require to post to secure your release as you await your case conclusion. It also represents your commitment to appear in court when needed. Certain factors are used to set the total bail amount, but judges eventually have the discretion to either reduce or increase the amount.
Sometimes the judge can release you on your own recognizance, and you don't need to post bail. At times, the judge will deny bail altogether.
Generally, there are three main methods of paying your bail amount, namely:
Different California counties allow suspects to pay bail with the police before their arraignment. The required bail amount depends on the alleged crime. The main difference between bail determination by the judge and the bail schedule is that the judge can change the amount in the former. The judge will consider factors like your criminal record, community ties, whether you are a flight risk, the crime committed, and your employment status.
Most people are detained for the most severe possible offense under the case circumstances. For instance, if found with drugs, you can be prosecuted with drug possession instead of drug trafficking if there is proof to suggest possession even though trafficking is more plausible. That means your bail amount per the bail schedule can be higher than required. The prosecution can later reduce the degree of your charge, but this won't affect the amount you must post under the bail schedule.
The court may deny bail if there exists a parole hold, public safety exception, or the offense in question carries death as a penalty. The public safety exception permits preventive detention, and it applies to felony sexual assault and specific classes of felonies. If the charges are for another crime, bail should be set as a matter of right.
A judge may deny bail in any of the below cases:
When denying bail, the judge should have persuading proof of your underlying case circumstances. You will find a list of felony sex crimes deemed to be acts of great bodily harm and violence.
If your alleged offense is bailable, the court can also choose to deny bail due to the following reasons:
It is sometimes possible with the assistance of a qualified criminal defense attorney. The legal counsel knows how to be creative when representing their clients. Suggesting bail conditions is an effective way to obtain your bail from an unwilling judge.
Some of the bail conditions include:
It is illegal for the judge to impose terms that break the defendant's constitutional Due Process rights.
California's definition for driving under the influence means operating your vehicle when the blood alcohol concentration is at least 0.08 percent. You are drunk driving if you take alcohol that impairs you to a level that you cannot drive your vehicle like a sober individual. That means if you only drink a few beers and drive in Cerritos, you run the risk of being arrested for DUI.
Suppose the police pull you over on suspicion of DUI or are arrested. In that case, you should submit to a chemical test to determine the alcohol level in your bloodstream under the implied consent laws. Generally, urine, breath, and blood are the three main tests available for testing your BAC. Failure to take your chemical test is punishable by an automatic suspension of your driver's license for a year.
Typically, driving under the influence bail amounts exceed five thousand dollars, which is not easy to have at hand at wee hours night, especially on a public holiday or weekend. It can seem almost hopeless if your livelihood or job depends on your ability to be released promptly. That is where your bail bonds agency comes in handy. Your 24-hour bondsman can stand with you, day or night, and secure your release from detention quickly for as little as possible.
Discussed below are some of the commonly asked questions about bail bonds.
Currently, there are lots of promotional talks about 0% bail bonds. Well, it would be great to think that you will be released from detention free. Nevertheless, if you require bail, somebody else will have to post it on your behalf. Under California law, the premium for bail bonds should not surpass ten percent.
0% bail bonds mean having a payment plan for the premium that does not require a down payment. To be eligible, you should meet specific requirements or have an indemnitor who satisfies the requirements. Some of these requirements include having a stable job and home or property whose equity is equivalent to your bail amount.
Typically, 0% bail bonds are available for charges like domestic violence, driving under the influence, assault, and child abuse. The eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Be sure to call your Cerritos bail bonds agency to discuss your case and see whether you qualify for these bonds or not.
By popular belief, most people believe that bail bonds will expire after a year. However, while any unused bail bond will expire on its first anniversary, a client-issued bail bond with the court does not expire.
Once the criminal case is concluded, the court will exonerate your bail bond. Regardless of your case outcome, the court will exonerate the bail bonds and relieve you and your co-signer of the responsibility to your bail amount. Please note that bail bonds do not expire following the exoneration, but the surety bail bond contract binds no one.
After your bondsman has received the court's certificate of exoneration, they must send you and your co-signer a copy of the same.
When you agree to be a co-signer, you should understand that you are entering into a binding indemnity agreement as a person accountable for your bail bond. Therefore, should the defendant fail to appear in court, you should pay the entire bail amount. Additionally, if the accused flees and the bondsman looks for them, you should reimburse the agent's incurred amount in the search process.
Here are the responsibilities of an indemnitor:
The court appearance doesn't mean only the arraignment; the contract is binding until the criminal case is closed. Since it can take weeks, months, or even years, you should be ready for the commitment. Finally, be sure you are sure the defendant will perform their responsibilities before signing the contract.
You become a fugitive if you're prosecuted with an offense and expected to show in court in one location, but you flee and hide in another to avoid prosecution. The conduct not only violates your bail conditions but also breaches your contract with your bonding provider. Should this occur, the agency has the entitlement to find, apprehend, and return you to police custody. The bondsman can choose to engage a bounty hunter, especially if you are believed to be in another state.
Cerritos College Campus Police Department
11090 New Falcon Way
Cerritos, CA 90703
Phone: (562) 860-2451
Cerritos Sheriff Station
18135 Bloomfield Avenue
Cerritos, CA 90703
Phone: (562) 860-0044
Los Cerritos Municipal Court
10025 Flower St,
Bellflower, CA 90706,
Phone: (562) 804-8001
Understanding the judicial system in California can be confusing and overwhelming. Posting bail allows you to be released from detention, with a commitment to appear in your court proceedings. The release will enable you to return to work, build your defense against the criminal charge, and continue with your daily life. If you or a loved one has been arrested, you probably have many questions about the bailing process, how Cerritos’ bail bonds work, why the judge might deny bail, and how the bail amount is set. The skilled bondsmen at Cali Bail Bonds understand that you are going through a challenging situation and can answer questions and offer pocket-friendly and timely bonds at any time of the day. Please call us today at 562-376-5476. A professional and certified bondsman will answer your call and tell you more about how we can help you.