BAIL bonds

Definitive Guide to Bail Bonds

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    What is bail?

    Bail provides an accused person or a defendant with the right to freedom prior to conviction. It is not a means to punish the defendant before conviction. Rather, it is the security provided when the defendant seeks release from jail before trial.

     

    The purpose of Bail is to guarantee the defendant’s appearance at all court proceedings at a later time. By posting Bail, the defendant can wait for his or her future trials outside of jail instead of sitting in jail for weeks or months. Posting bail for criminal cases can be done by paying for the entire bond amount, pledging one’s property to the court, or the fastest and safest method: a Bail Bond.

    What is a bail bond?

    A Bail Bond is a monetary guarantee provided by a surety bond company to the court for the conditional release of a defendant. The primary purpose of a bail bond is to ensure the defendant’s attendance in all court proceedings after they have been released. If the person being released on bond does not return to court as required, then the bail will be revoked, and he or she will be taken back into custody.

     

    This bond is for individuals who cannot afford to pay the bail amount on their own. It is usually a friend or family member who obtains the bail bond from an agent. The bail agent is backed by a surety company that will pay the full amount of the bond if the defendant fails to appear in court.

     

    Essentially, it is a type of surety bond issued by a bail bond company for arrested persons who do not pose any danger to the public or is a flight risk. The defendant and his or her co-signer must enter into an agreement with a bail bond company to execute the bail bond.

     

    These are three parties to a bail bond agreement:

    • Surety – bail bond company that will post the bond on behalf of the defendant
    • Principal – defendant (aka arrestee)
    • Obligee – a public entity (particularly, a court that is requiring the appearance of the defendant)

    By choosing the bail bond option, the defendant does not need to deposit the entire bail amount with the court.

     

    The bail bond company is essentially guaranteeing, to the court, the appearance of the defendant for all court appearances.

     

    For this service, the defendant (or the defendant’s co-signer) will pay the bail bond company a percentage of the full bond amount.

    List of most popular Jails

    Jail NameMore Information
    Alhambra JailMore Info.
    Altadena JailMore Info.
    Anaheim Detention FacilityMore Info.
    Arcadia JailMore Info.
    Avalon JailMore Info.
    Baldwin Park JailMore Info.
    Bell JailMore Info.
    Beverly Hills JailMore Info.
    Big Bear JailMore Info.
    Bishop JailMore Info.
    Blythe JailMore Info.
    Burbank JailMore Info.
    Carson JailMore Info.
    Cerritos JailMore Info.
    City of Industry JailMore Info.
    Claremont JailMore Info.
    Covina JailMore Info.
    Crescenta Valley JailMore Info.
    Culver City JailMore Info.
    Downey JailMore Info.
    East Los Angeles Station JailMore Info.
    El Monte JailMore Info.
    El Segundo JailMore Info.
    Foothill Area JailMore Info.
    Fullerton JailMore Info.
    Gardena JailMore Info.
    Glendale City JailMore Info.
    Glendora JailMore Info.
    Harbor Area JailMore Info.
    Hawthorne JailMore Info.
    Hermosa Beach JailMore Info.
    Hollywood Area JailMore Info.
    Huntington Park JailMore Info.
    Inglewood JailMore Info.
    Inmate Reception CenterMore Info.
    James A. Musick FacilityMore Info.
    Laguna Beach JailMore Info.
    La Verne JailMore Info.
    Lakewood JailMore Info.
    Lancaster JailMore Info.
    LAPD Metropolitan Detention CenterMore Info.
    Las Colinas Detention and Reentry FacilityMore Info.
    Lennox JailMore Info.
    Lomita JailMore Info.
    Long Beach City JailMore Info.
    Malibu/Lost Hills JailMore Info.
    Manhattan Beach JailMore Info.
    Marina del Rey JailMore Info.
    Maywood JailMore Info.
    Men’s Central JailMore Info.
    Mira Loma Detention CenterMore Info.
    Monrovia JailMore Info.
    Montebello JailMore Info.
    Monterey Park JailMore Info.
    Newport Beach JailMore Info.
    North County Correctional FacilityMore Info.
    Norwalk JailMore Info.
    Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Division JailMore Info.
    Palmdale JailMore Info.
    Palos Verdes Estates JailMore Info.
    Pasadena JailMore Info.
    Pico Rivera JailMore Info.
    Pitchess Detention Center North FacilityMore Info.
    Pitchess Detention Center South FacilityMore Info.
    Pomona JailMore Info.
    Redondo Beach JailMore Info.
    San Dimas JailMore Info.
    San Fernando JailMore Info.
    Century Regional Detention FacilityMore Info.
    Santa Clarita Valley JailMore Info.
    Santa Monica JailMore Info.
    Sierra Madre JailMore Info.
    Signal Hill JailMore Info.
    South Gate JailMore Info.
    Southeast Area JailMore Info.
    Southwest Area JailMore Info.
    Temple City JailMore Info.
    Torrance JailMore Info.
    Twin Towers Correctional FacilityMore Info.
    Van Nuys Jail/Valley JailMore Info.
    Vernon JailMore Info.
    Walnut/Diamond Bar JailMore Info.
    West Covina JailMore Info.
    West Hollywood JailMore Info.
    West Valley Detention CenterMore Info.
    Whittier JailMore Info.
    Wilshire Area JailMore Info.
    Women’s Central Jail Santa AnaMore Info.
    77th Street Regional JailMore Info.

    How Much Does A Bail Bond Cost?

    The bail bond “premium” is the amount that the defendant and his or her co-signers will need to pay the bail bond company for their services.

     

    Traditionally, the bond premium will be 10% of the bail amount that is set by the judge.  There are special circumstances where the premium can be lower.

     

    Your cost of bail is typically determined by the state. State laws prevent bail agents from offering discounted or reduced premiums on bail bonds. Doing so could cost them their license.

     

    Many times, bail agents will request some form of collateral in addition to the premium in order to secure the bond. This can be something of equal or greater value to the bond, such as jewelry, vehicle, home, et cetera.

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    How to get A Bail Bond

    Before contacting a bail bond agent, there is some information that you will need to have available:

    • The full name of the person who has been arrested as well as their booking number.
    • The name of the jail as well as the city and state.
    • The amount of the bail.

    Once the defendant, his relatives, or friends gives the bondsman a call, the bail bondsman will get the necessary information needed to start the process.

     

    The bondsman will check the condition of the defendant, what kind of offense he has been arrested for, which jail he is in, or if there are any personal matters that need to be addressed for the defendant among others.

     

    Before the parties enter into the bond agreement, the bail bondsman will inform the defendant and his co-signers or co-guarantors about the conditions of the bond as well as other procedural bond requirements.

     

    A bail bond can be obtained in person or over the phone. The bail agent will tell you the cost of the premium for the bond and if there is any collateral needed.

     

    Once the premium and the collateral have been received and the required paperwork has been completed, they will go to the jail to begin the release process. You may meet them at the prison, but it can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours for the release to be complete.

     

    If the defendant attends all court dates, then once the case has concluded, any collateral will be returned. The premium that is paid is non-refundable as it is the fee for service earned by the bail agent.

     

    IMPORTANT NOTE: Our company does not conduct bail bond services. This page is for information purposes only.

     

    How Does A Bail Bond Work?

    When a person has been arrested, the defendant will need to attend all necessary court appearances until their criminal case is resolved. Depending on the situation, the defendant may have to appear at many different future court hearings, including arraignment, bail hearings, preliminary hearings, trial, and sentencing.

     

    Release by using a bail bond allows the defendant to be free from jail so they can attend all of their court appearances. When somebody is arrested, there’s an existing bail schedule for specific types of offenses that is available in every jail.

     

    If the defendant is found to be eligible for bail, the amount will be determined during the booking process. The jailor can simply go to the bail schedule to determine the bail amount based on the crime that was alleged.

     

    During the booking process, or shortly thereafter, the defendant (family member/attorney/friend) will contact a bail bond company to make bail bond arrangements.

     

    With today’s technology, most of the paperwork required when obtaining a bail bond can be conducted in a few minutes by phone, email, fax, and online signing services such as DocuSign. After the paperwork has been finalized with the bail bond company, the bail bondsman can “post” the bail bond at the jail.  “Posting” of the bail bond at the jail, will start the release process.

     

    Depending on the jail, the defendant will be released in 1-6 hours (sometimes longer for larger jails).

     

    As the defendant’s guarantor, the bondsman is assuring the court that he will pay the full bond amount if the defendant fails to appear on the intended trial dates. This gives the bondsman financial incentive to insure the defendant makes all of their court appearances.

     

    For this service, the defendant will be charged a fee (aka the bail bond premium), which is usually 10% of the full bail amount.

    Example Scenario where Bail Bond is needed

    Here is a sample scenario that gives a further explanation of the entire bail bond process:

     

    Let’s say that somebody is arrested for domestic violence.  They are arrested, booked, and placed in a jail cell.  The jailor reviews the bail schedule and determines the bail to be set at $20,000.  A family member calls a bail bond company. By using a bail bond company, the family member would pay the bail bond company $2,000 (10%).  The bail bondsman will keep the $2,000 as their fee.

    Why Is A Bail Bond Commonly Preferred?

    For most people, using a bail bond company is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to procure somebody’s release from custody.

     

    Other options include a Cash Bond and Property Bond:

     

    Cash Bonds
    A cash bond is where you deposit the full amount of the bond with the court. When a defendant opts for a cash bond, the defendant will only be able to have that amount refunded after the case is fully resolved.

     

    Even after the case is finalized, it often takes months to get your money refunded. Also, if one pays cash bail, they will lose the “opportunity cost” of having those funds invested elsewhere.

     

    The defendant may not get the entire amount back because the court may retain a certain portion of the amount to cover administrative costs.

     

    Property Bonds

    Another option for having somebody released from jail in California is by using a property bond. In short, the court will essentially be putting a lien on your real estate.  The lien must be twice the amount of the bail.

     

    The process is very cumbersome, and usually requires several court appearances as well as assistance from an attorney.

     

    Usually, this process takes 2-8 weeks to finalize.

     

    Because of the given reasons, a bail bond will be the best option for most people.

    Who Is A Bail Bondsman?

    A Bail Bondsman, professional bail agent, or bail bonding agent is licensed by the Department of Insurance of a given state to post a bond.

     

    Defendants who lack the financial resources (or choose not to pay the full bail amount) to post the entire bail amount seek the help of a reputable bail bondsman.

     

    In return for the assurance that the defendant will appear in all of his or her court proceedings, the bail bondsman will pay for the full bail amount set by the judge.

     

    Along with the defendant, the bail bondsman is bound unto the Obligee (beneficiary of the bond) in the fulfillment of the bail bond’s conditions.

    Bail Bond FAQs (frequently asked questions)

    Below are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Bail Bonds.