When you or a loved one are arrested, your priority is getting out of jail quickly. Posting bail is usually the quickest way, but most people still need to get thousands of dollars ready to cover the entire bail amount. A bail bonds company can help by paying the fee for the defendant, and they or their family must pay back the remaining amount later. Here's what to know and where you can find quality bail bond services in Los Angeles and surrounding areas in Southern California.
When you or a loved one are arrested, your priority is getting out of jail quickly. Posting bail is usually the quickest way, but most people still need to get thousands of dollars ready to cover the entire bail amount.
A bail bonds company can help by paying the fee for the defendant, and they or their family must pay back the remaining amount later.
Here's what to know and where you can find quality bail bond services in Los Angeles and surrounding areas in Southern California.
How the bail system works can be challenging to understand. This is often made worse by the stress of being in jail or having a family member who is.
Going over the key points of how courts set bail and how to get help to pay your bail fee can help you navigate the process.
A bail bond is a surety bond that allows for a defendant's release for only a small fee and guarantees they will appear in court on the day of their trial.
Instead of paying the entire bail to get out of jail, a bail bond allows defendants or their families to pay only a percentage of the total cost.
Then, the court releases the defendant until it's time for them to appear in court.
When you or someone in your family is arrested for a crime, several things happen:
The arresting officer takes you to the jail, where you are booked, fingerprinted, and your mugshot is taken.
You are searched, given a uniform, and taken to your cell.
You are allowed a short phone call to your family or a bail bondsman.
You can request that a criminal defense attorney come to the jail to speak with you.
After determining you have enough equity to repay the loan, bail agents will post the bond amount for you.
Jail staff will come to get you from your cell after the bail money is paid and process your release paperwork.
You are released from jail and must return for all court appearances regarding your case.
A bail bond agent acts as a form of surety to the court to guarantee that a criminal defendant won't flee the state or country before their trial.
Unlike a defense attorney who argues for the arrested person's innocence, a bond agent contacts the jail on behalf of the defendant and pays their bail for them.
There are three different types of bail available in California:
Cash bond (California Penal Code -- PEN § 1269);
Bail bond (California Penal Code -- PEN § 1276); and
Real property bond (California Penal Code -- PEN
§ 1276.5).
You may also be released on your own recognizance if you prove that you have no prior criminal history and the court determines that you're not a flight risk.
"Own recognizance" means that you don't have to post bail to get out of jail.
For example, if you can show that you have community connections or a local job, the process of setting bail may be waived, and the promise of returning for all your court appearances is enough to keep you from doing jail time.
However, this is rare for criminal cases in Southern California, and most defendants are expected to post bail.
To successfully obtain a bail bond from a qualified California surety company, you will need the following information to get the bond posted:
The defendant's full name and date of birth;
The correct name of the jail the arresting agency took them to;
Their booking or case number;
What crime are they accused of committing;
Information about any collateral you have, such as property or liquid assets;
Your ID and signature; and
A down payment towards your cash bail.
When you work with an experienced bail bond agent in Los Angeles, they can walk you through the process of gathering the paperwork and identification you need, applying for payment plans, and more.
California allows defendants, their families, or a bail bond agent to post bail by using one of the following payment options and submitting it to your local court clerk:
Cash bail;
Money order;
Personal check;
Traveler's check; and
Certified or cashier's check.
Even though some risks are associated with taking out a bail bond to get out of jail, they can mostly be avoided by ensuring you show up to your court dates and make on-time payments to your bail bondsman.
You may be able to work and spend time with family while you or your loved one are awaiting trial.
While getting out of jail for a smaller percentage of your bail amount sounds like the best solution -- and it often is -- it's important to be aware of the risks of working with a bond company and how to mitigate them.
The most significant risk is missing your scheduled court appearance after posting bail through a bail bond company.
A bail bond business often uses bounty hunters to track someone down and ensure the defendant appears at their next scheduled court dates.
And when you're arrested again, courts will likely consider you a flight risk, and you may even be unable to get bail set at all.
Not all Southern California bail bond companies are created equal.
Unfortunately, many scammers pose as legitimate bail bond agents to trick unsuspecting and disadvantaged people into making payments believing it will help get them or their loved ones out from behind bars.
In California, along with most other states in the U.S., bail bond agents are required to be licensed.
Make sure the company you choose has good testimonials and online reviews and can be easily reached by telephone in case of any issues.
The last thing you want is to scrape together the last bit of money you have for bail, only to find out that the service you chose was a scam, and none of those funds went towards posting a bond.
CBB Bail Bonds are available day or night to answer your questions and help your loved one get out of jail fast.
Contact us to speak with our skilled bail bond agent at 562-740-8289.
We offer affordable payment plans for cash bail or a property bond so you can be released quickly.
In California, bail bonds are calculated at 10% of the total bail amount. If your bail is $15,000, the cost to get out of jail would be $1,500.
The time it takes you or your family member to be released from jail when you post bail varies based on several things, like the seriousness of your offense, when you were arrested, and whether or not the court system considers you a public safety risk.
For example, if the arrest happens on a Sunday or a holiday, you can expect a judge won't be available to set bail until the next business day.
Once the bond is posted, it can take between 30 minutes to several hours for the jail to process the release paperwork and for the guards to come to get the defendant from their cell.
In most cases, anyone arrested for a crime in California can go through the bail bonds process to get out of jail.
However, a judge can deny bail due to the defendant's criminal history or the severity of their alleged crime.
If this happens, a bail hearing will need to be set for the defendant to make their case for a lower bail amount.
If a judge believes that you're unlikely to make your court appearances or if you were accused of a very serious crime, you may be denied bail entirely.
This means you must stay in police custody until your trial date.
If bail is denied, your criminal defense attorneys may be able to argue against it and request a re-evaluation of your bail schedule.
However, if the judge still determines that your bail is fair, you can only be released once your charges are dismissed, or you are found not guilty at trial.
Defendants must also remain incarcerated if they can't pay the bail amount or don't qualify for a bail bond. How long this may take varies greatly between inmates.
Sometimes, it may only be a few weeks until your trial can be scheduled.
If the allegations against you are more serious and the prosecution needs more time to gather evidence, a defendant could be stuck in jail for many months or even more than a year before a jury can hear their case.
A warrant will be issued for arrest if a defendant is released after posting a bond and fails to appear in court.
This may either be a bench warrant or an active warrant.
A bench warrant can be seen when police look up a defendant's information and allow them to make an arrest, while an active warrant means the police can go to a defendant's known locations to look for and arrest them.
A bail bond can be revoked before a defendant's court date for many reasons, most notably if they commit another crime while out on bail.
We know the frustration and stress’ that follow during and after an arrest. We understand the importance of securing your loved one’s liberty. Posting bail with CBB Bail Bonds allow the defendant an opportunity to prepare their case pending trial. It allows the time to allocate resources, evidence or seek and retain private counsel. Trying to do this within the confines of a jail cell is next to impossible but a bail bond opens the opportunity to seek help and resources. Studies have shown that defendants who are in jail are typically offered harsher pleas than similarly situated defendants who are out on bail.
If your loved one is in custody, the dynamics of the case shifts and can influence defendant to take a deal, even though the state may not have a case or presents weak evidence. Posting bail on the other hand allows the defendant to make calculated and informative decisions regarding his or her case. Research has proven that when the defendant is released on bond, this creates unique opportunities and continue personal affairs but most importantly, unifying your family.
Our agents are dedicated to serving our clients in their time of need and have a vested interest in our client’s success. Our staff is here to help you from start to finish and we will work closely with you no matter the circumstances.
Soon after someone’s arrest, we need to make note the arresting agency so that we may properly track him or her. The booking process can vary from station to station but typically, the process takes 1-4 hours. There are a few exceptions to this though, there maybe times when the detainee may require medical attention and can sometimes be transported to a county hospital or the county jail to receive treatment for preexisting health conditions, special needs or could have sustained injuries during the arrest. If this applies, the defendant needs to be evaluated by a doctor or nurse, then cleared to continue the booking process. Once the booking process has been completed, our agents will contact the jailer to obtain the following information: Booking number, Charge(s), Bail Amount requested and whether bail would be required or if the arresting agency is going to cite and release commonly known as OR release. It is possible that when someone is arrested or detained, they would be released on his or her own recognizance (OR) or could be a detention only arrest which typically means a detention only, but no charges will be filed. When you speak to us, we will find out all this information first before we decide to take the next steps.
Once we have obtained the information, assuming that your loved one will not be released on their own recognizance or arresting agency classify the arrest as an 849.5PC (detention only), the next step will be to meet with our licensed agents. We can DocuSign the forms by Email or meet you at the agency where the defendant is being temporarily housed at. The forms typically take about 5-10 minutes to fill out and we will go over bail bond disclosures and provisions. Please remember to bring your ID and utility bill or car registration. Once all forms have been signed, our agent will go into the department and meet with the jailer. The police departments can be busy from time to time but in most circumstances, this is quick process. Once the bond has been posted, the jailer will begin the release process.
In most cases, the defendant will be released within 1-2 hours. Having your loved one out lifts a tremendous amount of stress and pressure. Once out on bond, the defendant will have to meet with our agents within a 48-hour window to go over forms and answer any questions, doubts, or concerns he or she may have.
If the defendant was released prior to their first scheduled court date, the first court date will get pushed out on average 30 to 60 days. The only time that a court date will not get pushed out if the defendant has appeared in court while detained. For more complicated matters such as holds, defendant is not bailable, high bail amounts or 1275 holds, we will need to conduct a review and or work with your lawyer to lift any holds and or request the courts for a bail review hearing. This process typically takes longer because there are a few things to coordinate on the court calendars and your lawyer. This will give us a fair shot in requesting the court for OR release or a bail reduction.
Our team handles every bond with integrity, honesty, and confidentiality. Within minutes to speaking with us, we will have answers and most importantly solutions! We are mobile and will come to you or meet in the convenience of our offices. From start to finish, we are with you the entire time.
We cover all jail facilities in Orange county, Los Angeles county, Riverside County and San Bernardino county. We can process bonds by phone, meet at any facility or jail, court, any of our branch offices or courts. Our offices are strategically located throughout Southern California so that we are only within a few minutes away from the jails.
Qualifying for bail is straightforward, most bail bond requires the following.
In some situations, it’s possible we may require more then one signor or collateral. This is determined by several factors. But most importantly, if collateral is used or required, this usually translates to better discounts. Most of our clients obtain rates ranging from 8% to 6% but we can go lower. For more information regarding rates, call us or submit a form for more assistance.
In most circumstances collateral is not always required. We have partnered with a surety that streamlines the process for us and our clients. Affordable, quick and efficiency is our motto combined with unmatched customer satisfaction and professionalism give us the advantage over out competitors.
We are dedicated to helping our clients save money by any means necessary. There are several ways that you can save:
One of the first things we will ask before we negotiate is to determine eligibility for reduced rates. Once we have applied all the credits, we offer payment plan options with no added charges or fees. We take pride in working with our clients on a one-on-one basis and will negotiate a payment plan that is right for you. We are flexible and reasonable. There is a reason why so many people have turned to CBB Bonds for help.
One of the benefits to dealing with a privately owned bail bond company is that we have discretion to offer rebates under proposition 13. In addition to the discounts, you would be eligible for, we can apply proposition 13 rebates resulting in better rates than any of our competitors. For more information on rates, please call us or submit a contact form.
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