Bail is a system that helps keep defendants out of jail while ensuring they do not flee their jurisdiction or skip scheduled court appointments. So, when apprehended, you must deposit a predetermined amount with the court to be discharged pending trial. Bail offers several benefits, but if you cannot afford the money, you will not experience them. Luckily, bail bondsmen have simplified the bail process and made it affordable. We can simplify your pretrial release at Riverside Bail Bonds through our Barstow bail bonds service.
Arrest Process
Typically, police arrest you when they observe you committing a crime. For instance, when they find you assaulting another party, they will arrest you and put you in custody.
Another incident when the police will arrest you is when they have a rational belief that you are breaking the law or about to do so. A rational belief is what is called a probable cause. For example, when a crime has been reported, and the victim has given a detailed description of the suspect, the police will arrest you if you fit the victim’s description.
Lastly, the police will make an arrest when the court issues an arrest warrant. The judge issues this if the police, through an affidavit, show a rational belief that you have committed a crime. The warrant usually has the name of the suspect, the alleged crime, your location, and the jail or station where you should be detained. It will also mention the bail you should pay to exit custody.
The Booking Process
Once you are in custody, you will undergo the booking procedure. The process usually entails the booking officer noting down your name, the time of the offense, the alleged offense, and an account of the incident leading to an arrest.
After that, you will take several photos, usually called mugshots. These photos highlight your physical description, like height and appearance, to help tie you to the alleged crime.
The next step involves surrendering your uniform and personal items and being presented with a jail uniform. Your clothes and other items will be released upon discharge unless the police come across contraband, which will be confiscated.
Fingerprinting is the next booking phase. It involves taking impressions of your ten fingers and feeding them into the national database. If an alleged crime has fingerprint evidence, your fingerprints will be compared with those in the evidence to match you with the suspect or eliminate you from the suspect list. A DNA sample could also be necessary during booking if DNA proof of a crime exists.
The police also use your fingerprints or name to search for outstanding arrest warrants. If you are apprehended for an unrelated offense but match the suspect in an existing case, your arrest could help solve a pending case.
The incarcerating officers will also check your general health and ask questions about your health to determine if you have any health condition that you can transmit or that needs medical attention during the period of incarceration.
Lastly, you will be in a holding cell, awaiting bail or arraignment. Once you find yourself behind bars, your priority should be to exit custody through bail.
Barstow Bail Process
After being detained on suspicion of a criminal violation, the way to exit jail is through a citation, which is a written promise you sign promising to appear in court on a said date. The other way is your own recognizance, normally granted by the judge, which does not require you to deposit bail. The third and most common option for leaving police custody is bail.
Barstow Bail Hearing
After arrest and booking, the booking officer can go through the bail schedule to establish the amount you will pay as bail through a duty judge or wait for the bail proceeding. A judge schedules the hearing to determine if you qualify for bail and the amount you should pay.
The proceeding is scheduled when the prosecutor files formal charges against you. You will learn about the proceeding a few hours after your arrest. Therefore, it will be unlawful for the police to detain you for long without presenting you in court.
You have a constitutional right to bail, but the judge can deny you this right if necessary. Based on the circumstances of your case, such as a history of skipping court or being a flight risk, you should consider having an attorney represent you in the bail proceeding to persuade the judge to grant bail.
After the court determines that you qualify for bail, the second decision they must make is on the bail you should deposit. The judge depends on the bail schedule to set the figure, although they can decide to increase or reduce the amount. Besides, you could qualify for OR discharge. Have your attorney request the court lower the bail figure or release you on personal recognizance.
The court has complete discretion on bail. However, the factors they consider when setting the amount include:
Your Community Ties
The judge gauges your chances of returning to court when requested based on your community ties and whether you will be a threat to the community upon release. If you have connections with the community, like employment, a home, or family, you are less likely to flee, so that they will lower your bail. However, if you have weak links with the community, bail will likely be higher.
Prosecutor’s Evidence
The judge considers the strength of the evidence the prosecutor has against you to set bail. Proof gives the judge a deeper insight into your case's circumstances and the chances of a conviction. Also, evidence helps the court determine the possible risk of reintegrating you into society pending prosecution. If the evidence shows you are a threat, your bail will be increased or denied. Again, when the possibility of a guilty verdict is high, bail will be significantly high to discourage you from fleeing your jurisdiction after a pretrial discharge.
Flight Risk
The chances of jumping bail or fleeing your jurisdiction are called flight risk. During bail, the judge considers this factor to ensure you will return for scheduled appointments.
If you are likely to flee, your bail will be significantly higher than that of a low-flight risk defendant. Having a stable job, a family, and investments makes you low flight risk, influencing the judge to set a lower bail.
Public Safety
Another consideration the court considers when determining bail is public safety. When deemed a threat to the public, your bail will be significantly high, lowering your chances of raising funds to exit jail. Even if you manage to consolidate the funds, you will be less willing to commit another crime out of fear of losing significant amounts of money.
The Gravity of Your Violation
In California, felony crimes attract hefty bail compared to misdemeanors. The more severe your crime, the more danger you pose to the community, hence the need to set an excessive bail figure.
Also, severe felonies are punishable by a death sentence upon conviction. If the court releases you when your possible punishment for the offense is life incarceration, you will likely flee your jurisdiction to avoid the punishment. The court will, therefore, deny you bail or set a high amount that is impossible to raise so that you can remain in jail until trial.
Importance of Barstow Bail
Just because you have been apprehended for a criminal violation does not mean you are guilty. The law presumes you are innocent until proven otherwise. Therefore, an arrest only allows for a trial, where evidence is reviewed, and a judge or jury decides whether you are guilty or innocent. Even when the prosecutor files formal charges against you after an arrest, this does not make you guilty.
When you face criminal allegations, you can defend yourself before a judge. The court will give you time to hire a private attorney or appoint a public defender to prepare your defenses to contest the allegations. However, it will be unfair for you to remain in custody for months or years, waiting for the court to decide your case.
For this reason, bail exists to give you, the defendant, the chance to exit custody and prepare sufficiently for trial. Bail acts as collateral to guarantee the court that you will appear later for your hearings.
Bail helps you return to your normal life and prepare for the case. Just because evidence points to you committing the crime does not make you guilty; you are eligible for a pretrial discharge. Bail enables you to resume your routines and reunite with your family.
Again, when you are outside jail, you prepare more sufficiently for your case than in jail. You will have more time to discuss the case, review evidence, and question witnesses outside the jail. Besides, the fact that you are working and making money means you can afford to save and hire the best defense attorney for your case.
Your Barstow Bail Options
When it comes to posting bail, you have several options. You can deposit bail upfront in cash if you have the full amount. You can call your friends or relatives to bring the money, and once it is deposited, you can exit custody. The funds will be refunded after the trial, regardless of the outcome. However, cash bail has its downside, as the money will not generate interest for the duration of the case. The court will make some deductions before the refund. Also, in some instances, the court will have to investigate the source of the funds, which could delay your release by days or weeks.
The other bail option is a property bond. The court can allow you to use a valuable property or item as collateral to guarantee your discharge. However, the property must have a value that is double the bail.
The third and most prevalent way of posting bail is through a Barstow bail bonds company. Your bondsman offers the court surety and promises to clear the balance if you disobey the pretrial discharge conditions.
We are an independent business that provides defendants and their loved ones with the financial support they need to exit jail if they cannot afford bail. Our Barstow bail bonds are quick, efficient, and reliable. Once you or your cosigner sign the contract and deposit the necessary fee, we will assign you a bondsman who will explain how the bond process works and deposit the funds for you. Therefore, after an arrest, the fastest and most effective way to obtain a discharge is through bail bonds.
The cost of your Barstow bail bond service is usually 10% of the bail. Depending on the agreement with your bondsman, you can pay the premium in full or in installments if the figure is significantly high.
You should know that some bondsmen will only agree to offer bond services if you have an indemnitor or collateral. The collateral or cosigner helps secure the bond that your Barstow bail bonds deposit for you in court if it is forfeited after you skip court. The indemnitor assumes financial responsibility for the bond. When you use collateral, the bondsman sells it to recoup the lost funds.
You should understand that the bail bonds guarantee to pay the full bail when you jump bail. So, when you are a no-show in court, the bondsman loses their money. Many demand a cosigner or collateral before entering into a contract.
The Procedure for Obtaining Barstow Bail Bonds
When the court sets your bail, you will have notified a loved one about your arrest. Once the bail is set, the person dealing with your Barstow bail bonds is your cosigner or indemnitor. The bondsman will need the cosigner to furnish them with details of your arrest, where you are detained, and the duration of your detention. The bondsman will also be interested in your employment status. They will also have some questions for the cosigner to ensure they qualify to cosign your surety bond contract. After the bondsman reviews the risk of depositing your bail, they will draft the agreement.
The indemnitor will then be asked to sign the contract and deposit the premium. Once the paperwork is completed, the bondsman assigned to your case will visit your jail to post the surety bond for your discharge.
After you post bail, you will be discharged. The cosigner and your Barstow bail bonds will be responsible for future court appointments. Therefore, they will explain your release conditions and ensure you appear before a judge when required. Once the case is concluded, the bondsman returns their bond, and collateral is released to the cosigner. Nevertheless, when you skip court, the court will issue a bench warrant, and the bondsman will forfeit the bail money.
Choosing the Right Barstow Bail Bonds Company
Barstow has many surety bond companies. Therefore, the critical question is, how do you find the best way to discharge your pretrial?
First, call Riverside Bail Bonds. Over the years, we have become the best and most reliable bail bonds company. Our experienced bondsmen will explain the bail process and answer all your questions about our bail services.
Similarly, you should check online reviews. An experienced bondsman understands the stress that comes with arrests. Therefore, they will be courteous and offer quality services. You can visit Yelp and BBB to read reviews from our former clients. You can even check reviews from other Barstow bail bonds to see what their previous customers say about the quality and speediness of their services. If you must choose from many companies, go for the company that has helped clients with charges like yours in the past and helped them exit jail quickly.
Also, remember to ask about the fees and available discounts. You want a bail bondsman who will make bail effective and affordable. Your bonds company understands the hassle of consolidating thousands of dollars quickly. The average fee in California is 10%, but some offer discounts under certain circumstances. Apart from the fees, pay attention to the contract details because many surety bond companies include hidden charges, annual fees, contract renewal charges, and other costs that make bail services expensive.
Look for a company that is available around the clock. If you need to exit jail at any time, find a reliable professional. Your bail bondsmen should be available 24 hours a day to answer your call at the hour of need. An experienced bondsman, keep the arrest private and process your release quickly.
Court and Jail Information
Jail Information
Barstow Police Department
225 East Mountain View Street, Suite B
Barstow, CA 92311
Court Information
San Bernardino County
Barstow Superior Court
235 East Mountain View Street
Barstow, CA 92311
Find a Skilled Bondsman Near Me
Posting bail in Barstow is costly and complex. Partnering with a surety bond company is the best way to simplify the bail process and make it affordable. At Riverside Bail Bonds, we can speed up your release and help you reunite with your family without incurring huge debts or spending all your money on bail. Contact us at 951-788-2663 to arrange a meeting.
