When you are arrested and are awaiting a trial in California, you could be allowed to make bail if you are eligible. This means paying some money to the court to guarantee your court appearances. The amount you pay mainly depends on your charges, criminal history, safety, and flight risk. You can post cash bail or use our bail bond service at Future Bail Bonds. We only charge 10% of your bail to make our services more affordable. We also streamline the bail process to make it easier to navigate.
A Review of Common Amounts to Help You Determine How Much You Pay
Generally, bail amounts in California are set based on the nature of the crime, a defendant's criminal history, and the defendant's safety and flight risks. Bails are usually predetermined in a bail schedule based on the nature of the crime. This is where you will find predetermined bail amounts for common misdemeanors and felonies in California. The bail for a simple misdemeanor can be up to $2,500, while bail for a more serious misdemeanor or a repeat offender can be up to $10,000. Felonies have higher bail amounts because they are more severe crimes than misdemeanors.
The amounts you pay for bail depend on whether you will use cash bail or a bail bond service. If you choose cash bail, the courts will expect you to pay the full amount before being released from jail. People who choose cash bail have sufficient financial resources to pay it after an arrest. If you lack enough funds, you can use a bail bond service. Generally, bail bondsmen charge only 10% of the bail to guarantee your court appearances. If your bail is $2,500, it means that you will pay $250 for a bail bond service.
The bail bondsman's fee is payable up front, as a premium to start the bail process. It is non-refundable since it is also the fee you pay for the service. Once you pay the $250 and appear at all scheduled hearings regarding your case, you will not pay anything more. The bail bondsman will pay the amount the court requires to grant you a pretrial release. After your case, the court will refund the full bail to the bail bondsman. However, if you skip bail and the court forfeits your bail, the bail bondsman will not receive a refund after your case. You will incur the additional cost.
The Percentage Cost Examples
Bail amounts in California are set by County Superior Courts and listed in the bail schedule. Local courts use the bail schedules to determine the approximate amount of bail you should pay if you are eligible for a pretrial release after an arrest. The court can increase or decrease the amount during the first arraignment. Its decision is mainly based on the specific circumstances of your case.
If there are mitigating factors in your case, like the fact that this is your first offense, the court can lower the bail amount or free you on your personal recognizance. In case of aggravating factors in your case, like the involvement of a minor or the use of a deadly weapon, the court can increase the amount.
Generally, the bail for a misdemeanor ranges from $2,500 to $25,000. The bail for a simple misdemeanor is higher than that of an aggravated misdemeanor. The court will also consider your flight and safety risks when setting the amount. If your bail is set at $5,000, you will pay 100% of that amount if you use cash bail. This means that the court will not allow your release until it receives the full amount. A bail bondsman will charge 10% of that amount to post your bail. This amounts to $500.
Other requirements apply when working with a bail bondsman, including collateral and a cosigner. Collateral is anything valuable that the bail bondsman can sell to recover their finances in case of bail forfeiture. A cosigner is a person who helps you with the bail process. They also agree to assume financial responsibility in the event of bail forfeiture. Bail bondsmen include these requirements in their agreements to protect themselves from unforeseen financial losses.
The Available Payment Options
The 10% charge by bail bondsmen makes bail affordable for all defendants, regardless of their financial background. You can still afford a pretrial release even if you lack the finances to guarantee your court appearances. However, most bail bondsmen in California require the 10% payment before the bail process begins.
While 10% of an amount may sound affordable, it is not always the case for all defendants. Remember that some defendants' bail is set high, especially if you face serious criminal charges. This means that even 10% of that amount will be more than you can raise at the moment. In this case, you can negotiate with your bail bondsman for a flexible payment method that works for you.
Fortunately, many bail bondsmen agree to payment plans. The most common ones include paying a particular amount upfront, and the remaining amount in manageable installments over a particular period. However, you have to honor this agreement with your bail bondsmen to avoid additional issues.
Also, you must attend all court appearances to avoid bail forfeiture, which incurs an additional cost. If the court forfeits your bail, the bail bondsman can sell your collateral to recover its finances or use bounty hunters to collect the money from you or your cosigner.
Find Affordable Bail Bonds Near Me
If you are eligible for bail in California and cannot afford cash bail, we can help at Future Bail Bonds. We charge 10% of your bail and allow flexible payments if the premium is more than you can raise at the beginning of the bail process. We also help with the bail process as you prepare to return home and to plan your defense. Our services are also available around the clock, for your convenience. Call us at (714) 515-5154 to learn more about our charges.