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California Bail Bond Statistics: How Much Bail Is Set by Crime Type
Published by Future Bail Bonds | Updated June 12, 2025
In California, bail amounts can vary widely depending on the type of charge. While the intent of bail is to ensure appearance in court, the amount set often reflects more than risk—it reflects local policies, public pressure, and judicial discretion. This article uses data from across California counties to provide a closer look at how much bail is set for common offense types.
Whether you're a legal content writer, journalist, or law reform advocate, these bail statistics can provide valuable insight into the fairness and consistency of pretrial practices.
Average Bail Amount by Offense
The following chart presents the average bail amounts by crime type in California, based on public bail schedules and court data from 2024–2025.
| Crime Type | Average Bail Amount |
|---|---|
| Homicide | $100,000 |
| Robbery | $40,000 |
| Burglary | $30,000 |
| Weapon Offense | $28,000 |
| Domestic Violence | $27,000 |
| Assault | $25,000 |
| Fraud | $22,000 |
| Theft | $12,000 |
| Drug Possession | $15,000 |
| DUI | $10,000 |
These numbers highlight not just the seriousness of certain offenses, but also how monetary bail continues to serve as a gatekeeper to pretrial release.
Bail Ranges: The Min and Max Spectrum
While average bail gives a sense of central tendency, many offenses have wide bail ranges depending on the case's specifics, prior convictions, or aggravating factors. Below is a heatmap showing the minimum and maximum bail typically set for each offense.
- Homicide: $75,000 to $150,000
- Robbery: $30,000 to $50,000
- Assault: $15,000 to $35,000
- Drug Possession: $8,000 to $20,000
- Theft: $7,000 to $17,000
The broad range of potential bail settings raises ongoing concerns about consistency and equal treatment. Two defendants with the same charge in different counties could face drastically different bail amounts.
Why These Statistics Matter
Understanding bail by offense type is essential for anyone reporting on justice reform, evaluating pretrial practices, or comparing sentencing fairness. These disparities often shape outcomes well before a trial begins.
Bail statistics also help shed light on who benefits from reforms and who remains stuck in the cycle of pretrial incarceration due to financial limitations.
Future Bail Bonds: Transparent Support for All Offenses
Whether you're facing charges related to theft, assault, or something more serious, our licensed agents provide fast and confidential bail services throughout California. We also offer flexible financing options for qualifying clients.
