Posting bail in California is an important step in criminal matters, especially if you want to get out of custody. Bail is the money you give to the criminal court to get yourself or a loved one released before your hearing. It guarantees that you’ll show up for court. If you can’t pay bail, you’ll stay in jail while your case goes on.
Based on your case, bail amounts can be pretty high, but remaining in jail can lead to even worse problems. When you get out on bail, you can return to work and make money to pay for your defense, which isn’t possible if you’re stuck in jail.
If you or someone you care about is in a Carmel-by-the-Sea jail and can’t afford bail, contact Future Bail Bonds. We know how important it is to get released from jail. Our Carmel-by-the-Sea bail bondsmen will handle your bail issues and give expert help during the tough bail process.
An Overview of Bail
Bail in California is money an offender pays to the criminal court to get out of jail while waiting for their trial. If you or a loved one is arrested in California, you might want to know how to apply for bail and get released quickly.
After being arrested and booked, you’ll attend an arraignment where you request your bail hearing. A bail hearing is where the presiding judge decides if you can be released on bail or if you have to stay in jail.
Most people facing criminal charges in California can get bail. You can pay bail before meeting the judge. But if there are disagreements about how much bail you should pay or any conditions, the judge will let you know the bail amount at your bail hearing.
The amount is meant to ensure you show up for your court date. It’s not a penalty for the charges you face. You can get your money back when you show up for your trial and the proceeding ends. Your bail hearing is also a chance to request that the presiding judge lower or remove your bail.
Own Recognizance Release
Some offenders can get out of jail without paying bail.
An OR release lets them handle their charges while staying outside custody, without having to pay any money. But not everyone can get this release.
Your loved one might be eligible for release without paying bail if they’re facing a minor offense, and it’s their first offense. With an Own Recognizance release, they must promise to attend court. The court might also set some conditions for your release.
When deciding on an Own Recognizance release, the judge looks at the crime you’re accused of, your criminal record, and whether you can afford bail. If you’re accused of a crime where someone was seriously hurt, getting an Own Recognizance release might be tough. If the presiding judge does let you go on OR release and you break the rules, they could issue an arrest warrant for you.
California Bail Schedules
The bail amount isn’t equal for everyone and depends on various factors in your case. The judge refers to the bail schedule first when deciding your bail.
In California, each county’s superior court has a bail schedule. This document lists the bail sums for different felony offenses.
The county’s bail schedule tells you how much you can pay to avoid a court hearing. If the bail money is linked to your warrant, you won’t need to appear in court for the bail hearing. The judge can raise or reduce the bail at your first court appearance.
The schedule starts with the sum for your specific crime. The court will use the highest bail amount if you're charged with multiple offenses. The judge could add the amounts together if the charges happened at different times. Once the judge figures out your bail from the schedule, they might raise it based on various factors, like:
A History of Violence
The judge looks at your criminal record when adjusting bail. If you’re in custody for committing a violent crime, your bail amount could increase. The court might also grant you restraining orders to keep you away from your crime victims. You’ll lose the bail and go back to custody when you break this order.
Nature of Your Charges
The seriousness of your charges affects your bail. You might be more likely to flee to avoid severe penalties if you face serious charges.
Increased Flight Risk
A flight risk indicates you could attempt to flee after securing bail. At the bail hearing, you must demonstrate that you do not pose a risk of fleeing. Demonstrating solid community connections, such as family relationships or stable employment, can be beneficial. If the presiding judge suspects you might flee, they may change the bail to a higher amount that could be hard to forfeit.
History of Complying with Court Orders
When you pay bail, you must adhere to specific regulations, such as attending court and avoiding new offenses. If you’ve got a record of infringing court orders or skipping bail, the judge could raise your bail.
Types of Bail In California
There are different types of bail you can post for your loved one:
Cash Bail
Paying cash is the quickest way to get your loved one out. When you choose cash bail, you must pay the total amount upfront for the defendant to be released. You can get your money back after the legal case ends, and the result won’t change the sum.
Even though cash bail works fast, many offenders in California can’t afford the high amounts. Plus, paying a huge cash bail could raise concerns about where the money came from. If the judge thinks the cash was obtained illegally, they will pause the process to investigate where it came from.
Property Bond
Property bonds allow you to put up your property, such as real estate, as security for the defendant’s bail. The court attaches a lien to your property until the matter is concluded, and typically, the property’s worth must be twice your bail sum.
This process can take longer since a professional must evaluate the property.
Carmel-by-the-Sea Bail Bonds
Bail bonds are agreements between defendants and Carmel-by-the-Sea bail bondsmen. They provide the bail and assurance that the offender will appear in court. The procedure begins once you get word of your loved one’s apprehension and reach out to a bail bonds service, which will dispatch a Carmel-by-the-Sea bail bondsman to assist you.
Before making the call, collect this information about the defendant:
- Name
- Accusations
- Where they’re held
- Bail amount
The bail bondsman will evaluate the defendant’s qualifications and determine your capability to pay. In the state, bail bonds come with a non-refundable premium fee of 10 percent of the bail. You may also need to submit collateral, such as a motor vehicle or real estate.
Carmel-by-the-Sea Jail and Courthouse Information
Monterey City Jail
351 Madison Street
Monterey, California 93940
Superior Court of California, County of Monterey
240 Church Street,
Salinas, California 93901
Find a Bail Bonds Company Near Me
If you or a loved one gets arrested, posting bail is key to getting out of jail. When a judge sets bail, you can either pay it and leave or stay in jail until trial. Some people can’t come up with the cash, so they stay in jail.
If you can’t afford your bail, don’t worry. You can use a Carmel-by-the-Sea bail bondsman to help get your loved one released. Just reach out to Future Bail Bonds. We’re here to help you out. Call our office at 619-880-8737 to talk about your situation.
