When you or a loved one is accused of a crime, it's easy to feel out of your depth. So many aspects go into the process of posting bail, which can be overwhelming and confusing. To help you stay informed, we've put together this guide on how bail bonds work in California. You will learn what bail is, how much it costs and who pays for it. You will also learn the steps involved with posting bail bonds and other related information like being arrested and what happens if you don’t appear in court.
If you are arrested, you need to be released from jail as fast as possible to prepare a strong defense. To do so, you need an efficient bail bonds agent to process your bond. At Cali Bail Bonds, we have been helping clients seeking bail bond services in La Miranda, CA, and have a wealth of experience in the California bail bond process. We will ensure you are released from jail as fast as possible. In addition, we can help make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
When you have been arrested, the court can release you on bail. Bail is an amount of money the court charges you to ensure you appear in court for your hearings. Bail ensures you don’t have to spend time incarcerated until then and keeps you from breaking other laws before appearing in front of a judge.
In most cases, the bail amount is a considerable sum that might be difficult for you to raise. However, if you don’t have enough cash, you can use the services of a La Miranda bail bonds agent. The bondsman posts the bail on your behalf while you pay the bail bondsman a percentage of the bail amount. Most bail bond agents charge 7% to 10% of the bail amount.
However, the bail bond agent will require collateral to secure the rest of the bail. If you commit another offense while out on bail, the judge will issue an arrest warrant, and your bail will become null and void.
The trial period is typically not a set amount of time. Instead, it's measured by how many times someone has shown up on all their appointed days in court. If you as an offender don't break any law during this timeframe, the court will refund the bail bond cash. So if you're accused of committing a crime in California and are looking to post bail, it's critical to employ the services of a La Mirada bail bonds agent.
A criminal defense attorney is not required when posting bail since it does not involve a trial, but it is a good idea to have one. The attorney can guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have along the way.
To be considered for bail in La Mirada, the crime you're accused of committing must not carry life imprisonment. Some capital offense crimes which can lead to life imprisonment in California include first-degree murder, second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and other similar severe crimes.
If you fail to meet these requirements, you lose eligibility for release on bond as well as any other form of prerelease. In addition, the court will deny a request for bail release without conditions.
If you are eligible for bail, the court will set an amount of money you're able to pay as your bond to be released from jail pending a trial date. If you can't afford this cost, you may still qualify for assistance through local government programs or charities which offer alternatives such as community service hours instead of cash collateral. You can also use a La Mirada bondsman who will post bail on your behalf.
The timeline for this process varies based on charge severity, criminal history, location, and availability of community service options in lieu of prison time. Still, generally speaking, it should take no more than a day or two from arrest to release pending hearing depending on any additional pre-trial requirements set by the judge like drug rehab programs or restitution agreements. Remember, every case is different, and you might have your unique factors which might speed up or slow down the process.
The process starts with an arrest, which can happen at any time during your day. For example, you might be driving down the street, walking into work, eating lunch, or undertaking any other activity. After you’ve been taken into custody and brought to jail, you’ll be processed and charged accordingly before being released (or staying) pending arraignment - which usually happens within 24 hours after being booked, depending on the jurisdiction of the charges filed.
If you’re in jail, you will most likely be required to post bail. The amount of bail depends on the severity of your crime. You can see more information about different levels of crimes at the California Bail Schedule.
In California, you have the liberty to post bail in several ways. Below are the ways through which you can post bail.
Bail bonds are the most common way for posting bail in California. Here, someone else, usually a bail bondsman, pays the bail on your behalf and agrees to serve as your guarantor. They post bail on your behalf and become responsible if you flee before trial. You pay the bail bond agent a percent of the bail. Most bail bond agents charge 7% to 10% of the bail amount. For example, if the court sets your bail at $20 000, the bail bond agent pays the bail, and you pay them $2,000, which is 10% of the bail they paid on your behalf. This fee is usually non-refundable. To secure the $20,000 the bail bond company posts as bail on your behalf, you have to give them collateral such as land or a house which should be valued more than the bail amount.
A cash bond requires you to pay for your bail, and you are released as soon as you pay it off. The longer you’ve been in custody, the higher the payment will be. But you can negotiate with the court for lower rates if eligible.
Under property bond, you use property to secure the bail. You can use your friend’s, family member, or personal property like a house or land as collateral for bail. The value of the collateral has to be higher than the bail amount. Once you surrender the collateral, the court will release you from prison.
If you happen to know someone who's been arrested or find yourself in a position where you might need bail bond assistance yourself, you must understand the process well. The following timeline should help you have a better understanding of the process.
Phase One: Arrest and Bail Bond Process Begins
The purpose of posting bail is to be released from custody. Therefore, the first phase of the bail bond process is an arrest. When law enforcement officers arrest you, the court may require you to post bail. Therefore, it is advisable to seek the services of a La Mirada bail bonds agent to post bail on your behalf and be released from jail as soon as possible.
Phase Two: Arraignment
The arraignment is when you appear before a judge who'll determine if you're guilty of charges filed against you by prosecutors and also set future dates or terms like trial dates, probation terms, and similar conditions. These conditions include pretrial services, restitution agreements, or other procedural matters.
Phase Three: Trial
During the trial, a jury of your peers decides whether to convict you based on the evidence presented by both sides in the courtroom. The jury also considers all the rules of law that have been set before them. If found guilty, then sentencing will be ordered, which could include probation terms, fines or fees, mandatory community service hours for first-time offenders, and prison time if not eligible for diversion programs such as drug courts. Terms are typically determined by what sentence would've been given had you pleaded guilty at arraignment without going through a trial. The ruling may vary depending on how many charges were filed against you and your criminal history.
Arrest
If you’re arrested, you’re taken into custody and brought to jail, where you'll be processed per your charges being filed before being released (or staying) pending arraignment. This process should happen within 24 hours after being booked for minor offenses but may take longer if it's a more severe charge or if you are non-local.
Plea Bargain
Plea bargains can occur at any time during the legal proceedings so long as both sides agree on sentencing terms such as probation vs. prison time and fines. It is not mandatory that plea bargaining occurs outside of trial, so it typically doesn't need to go through this phase.
Trial
This is the phase where a jury of one's peers decides whether to convict you based on the evidence presented by both sides in the courtroom and all the rules of law that have been set before them. If found guilty, then sentencing will be ordered, which could include probation terms, fines/fees, mandatory community service hours for first-time offenders, and prison time if not eligible for diversion programs such as drug courts. Terms are typically determined by what sentence would've been given had you pleaded guilty at arraignment without going through a trial. Therefore, it may vary depending on how many charges were filed against you and your criminal history.
Whittier Courthouse
7339 Painter Ave
Whittier, CA 90602
Phone: 562-968-2699
Orange County Traffic Court
Address: 1275 N Berkeley Ave
Fullerton, CA 92832
Phone: 657-622-6878
LA County Superior Court Department
Address 12720 Norwalk Blvd
Norwalk, CA 90650
Phone: 562-345-3700
La Mirada Jail Information
Norwalk Jail
Address: 12335 Civic Center Dr
Norwalk, CA 90650
Phone: 562 863 871
Whittier Police Station Jail
Address: 13200 Penn St,
Whittier, CA 90602
Phone: 562 567 9200
Fullerton City Jail
Address: 237 W Commonwealth Ave
Fullerton, CA 92832
Phone: 714 738 6800
Cypress Jail
Address: 5275 Orange Ave,
Cypress, CA 90630
Phone: 714 229 6652
Garden Grove City Jail
Address: 11301 Acacia Pkwy
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Phone: 714-741-5704
When you are arrested, you are typically released on bail within 24 hours. The court charges you bail to secure your release. The bail amount is usually a high figure and you may not have that kind of cash on hand. Therefore, you may need to use a La Mirada bail bond company to post bail on your behalf so that the court can release you pending your hearing.
The timeline of your release on bail varies depending on the severity of your charges, your criminal history, your location, the availability of community service options instead of prison time, and other similar factors. Usually, it should take no more than one day. If you or your loved ones need to post bail in La Mirada, do not hesitate to contact Cali Bail Bonds at 562-376-5476. We are professionals, and we will ensure your speedy release from jail.
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