Bail is usually set by the court as a monetary figure that must be paid by you, the defendant, in order for you to be released until the next court proceeding. If you appear as required, the bail money is released when your case concludes. If you fail to appear for a proceeding, then the amount of the bail is forfeited to the court.
How bail hearings work
When you are charged with a crime such as DWI, you may be subject to a bail hearing. It sometimes is necessary to wait in jail until the hearing can be held.
In California, a bail hearing takes place in court, where the bail amount, if any, is determined. If the judge believes that you may be a danger to the public or that you are not likely to return to court for future proceedings, the judge may require you to pay bail.
Several factors impact the court’s decision whether to set bail, and how high to set it. The judge reviews:
- Your community ties
- The nature of your employment and how long you have been employed
- Your family members who are present at the hearing
- Your involvement in the community
- Your history of court appearances and prior criminal record, if any
- The job of the bail bondsman
Most people do not have the cash needed to make bail, so defendants typically find a bail bondsman to put up the money in exchange for a fee that is a percentage of the bail posted. The fee may be guaranteed through a lien or some kind of security interest in another asset to make sure the bondsman is paid if the defendant jumps bail by not making future court appearances.
It is important to choose a good bail bondsman to take care of your bail and to negotiate for the best deal. You should consider:
- Rates charged — most in Los Angeles and throughout California are competitive
- Whether the bondsman serves the particular jail where bail must be posted
- How fast bail can be posted
- If collateral is required
- Whether payment plans are available
Once the bail bondsman posts bail, the process to release you from jail begins. This process can take minutes or hours depending on how busy the jail is and if you still must complete the booking process.
Our Goals and Mission
It is the goal of our company to treat our bail bond clients with respect. We strive to inform and educate all parties involved by clearly explaining all responsibilities stated in the bail bond contract. We realize that this is a difficult situation and we want to make it as easy as possible.
It is the mission of our company to provide each of our valued clients with fast, confidential and courteous service throughout the bail bond process. We believe in the right to bail and that a person is innocent until proven guilty. We also believe each person has the right to a fair and speedy trial and has the right to be represented by an attorney.
