No one expects to end up behind bars. However, a good day can quickly turn sour if you face arrest and criminal charges in California. If you cannot be released on your own recognizance (OR), you must post bail to secure your release before your trial. Bail guarantees you will appear in court. Bail amounts can be hefty, and raising the money can be challenging. Fortunately, other options exist for posting bail.
Many people in California are familiar with surety bonds. A Big Bear bail bonds company can help you raise the entire bail amount. You only pay around 10% of the set bail amount. This way, it is easier for anyone to stay out of jail while waiting for their court hearing.
At Riverside Bail Bonds, we are here to assist with the funds you need to have your loved one released. Our Big Bear bail bonds service supports you and offers peace of mind during this challenging time.
An Overview of Bail
Bail is the money you need to pay to the court to be released while waiting for your criminal case to be decided. After you are arrested, you can post bail and go home or stay in jail until your case is resolved. Although staying in jail might seem like a way to save money, it can significantly impact your life. Jail conditions are often harsh, and you may experience significant stress from staying in that environment.
Being in jail also means you cannot spend time with your family during this difficult time. When you are released on bail, you can return to your job, earn a living to pay for your defense, and meet with your defense lawyer to discuss your case.
If the court grants you bail, you must follow these rules:
- Promise to return—You must agree to come back for your trial and other court dates
- Travel restrictions—You may not leave the area, and the court may require you to give up your travel documents
- Stay-away orders—If you are charged with domestic violence or other violent crimes, you must stay away from the alleged victims
- Surrender firearms—If you own any guns, you must give them up while on bail
- Home detention—In some cases, you may be allowed to go home but will need to wear an electronic bracelet to track your movements
- Substance abuse programs—If you are charged with drug or alcohol-related offenses, you may be ordered to attend treatment or counseling
Types of Bail
Each criminal case is unique. If you or someone you know is held behind bars, there are different bail options depending on your financial situation, the nature of the charges, and your citizenship. Here are the main types of bail you should know about:
Release on Your Own Recognizance
Being released on your own recognizance (OR) means you can go home before your trial without paying bail. However, not everyone qualifies for this type of release. You might qualify for release on your own recognizance (OR) if:
- This is your first offense.
- You are facing a minor charge.
- You have a strong history of attending court dates and following orders.
- Your charge is not related to a violent crime.
Cash Bail
Paying cash bail is the fastest way to secure your release from jail. If you consider this bail option, you need to pay the full bail amount in cash directly to the court. You will receive your money back after the case ends if you follow all the bail conditions.
Many people find it hard to raise the cash needed for bail quickly. Paying a significant amount of cash can also raise concerns, which might lead to questions about where the money came from. This could invade your financial privacy and delay the bail process.
Property Bonds
If you are in jail and cannot afford cash bail, you can use property to secure your release. The court will decide how much value the property can have for the bond. When you offer property as a bond, the court will hold a hearing to confirm who owns the property and its value.
Everyone listed on the property deed must attend the court hearing if you use real estate as a bond. You must also provide details about the property’s value and any changes in ownership. If you do not appear in court after the property bond is posted, the court may sell the property to cover the bail amount.
Bail Bonds
You need financial help from a bail bonds company to post a bail bond. This involves an agreement between the defendant, the court, and the bail bonds company. When you reach out to a Big Bear bail bond service, they will pay the full bail amount for your loved one. The bail bondsman is responsible for ensuring the defendant shows up in court.
You must pay 10% of the bail amount for the bail bond services. This fee is not refundable. The bail bonds company might also ask for collateral in addition to the bail fee. If the defendant does not follow the bail conditions or misses court dates, you will not receive a refund of the collateral you provided.
Factors That Affect The Bail Amount
The judge decides the bail amount during your first court appearance after being arrested and booked. Bail amounts can differ from one person to another. While the court has some discretion in setting the bail, several important factors influence this decision. These include the following:
Bail Schedules
A bail schedule shows the recommended bail amounts for various crimes. It is designed to reflect the severity of a crime. Felony crimes attract higher bail amounts, whereas misdemeanors attract lower ones. The court uses this schedule as a guide to set the bail amount. However, you might not pay the exact amount listed. The judge can adjust the bail amount based on the specific details of your case.
Criminal History
The court will review your criminal record if you have been arrested before. A history of previous arrests could make it seem like you are more involved in criminal activities. This can affect how the judge views you. Because of this, the judge might impose stricter conditions for your bail release.
However, having a criminal record does not automatically mean you cannot be released on bail. The judge will examine how you followed bail conditions in past cases to help decide your current bail terms.
If your record shows that you cooperated and attended all required court appearances in the past, the judge may be more likely to grant you bail with reasonable conditions. On the other hand, if there is evidence that you failed to cooperate or missed court dates, it could negatively affect your chances of securing bail.
Additionally, the judge will review the crimes on your record to help make their decision. If you have been arrested multiple times for the same type of crime, you might have a more challenging time obtaining a favorable order for bail. The judge may believe you have not tried to reform your behavior.
Flight Risk
A flight risk means the likelihood that you might try to escape and avoid court if you are released on bail. This factor is important when the court decides if you can be released before your trial. The judge looks at various factors to assess how likely you are to show up for your court dates. People with high flight risks usually have to pay a higher bail amount.
Severity of The Criminal Charges
The bail amount is generally higher for more serious crimes in California. If you are charged with a severe crime, you face the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence and hefty fines. This might make you more likely to try to escape after being released on bail. The police will arrest you for the most severe offense they can prove, even if the charges might be reduced later. Your bail is set based on the initial charges you face.
Strength of Community and Family Ties
If you have close family members or dependents living nearby or are involved in a local religious organization, the court may believe you are less likely to flee. This could result in a lower bail amount. Showing that you have a stable, full-time job can also convince the court that you are not a flight risk, potentially leading to a more affordable bail amount.
Threat to Self and Other People
Before granting bail, the court will consider your safety and the safety of others. If there is a risk that you might harm yourself or others, the court may set a high bail amount or deny bail altogether. If bail is denied, you will need to stay behind bars until your trial ends.
Your Commitment to Appear For All Court Proceedings
The judge may ask you to show your commitment to attend all scheduled court dates by signing an agreement. This form will include details about the consequences of not keeping your promises, which could include being held in jail for the rest of the trial.
Signing this agreement can improve your chances of being released, but you must ensure you can meet all the conditions in the document. For example, you might need to post bail by a certain date. You should contact your Big Bear bail bonds service as soon as possible to confirm that they can pay the full bail amount for you.
How a Big Bear Bail Bonds Company Can Help in My Case
If you contact a Big Bear bail bonds service, they will send a bail bondsman to post bail for your loved one and help them through the entire bail process. The main duties of a bail bonds company include the following:
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Checking Your Eligibility
After the bail bond company receives your application, the bail bondsman will determine if you qualify for the bail bond. The bail bonds company usually looks at a few things to decide if you are eligible for the bail bond. For example, they will consider if you can afford the fees and if there is a risk that the defendant might flee. This evaluation's main purpose is to ensure the bail bonds company does not lose the money it pays to the court if the bail conditions are not met.
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Handle the Paperwork for the Bail Bonds
A bail bond is a legal agreement between you and the bail bonds company. You need to sign some papers agreeing to pay the bail fee. The Big Bear bail bonds service will help you understand the agreement and handle the paperwork before arranging the bail amount.
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Posting Bail
Once the bail bond company confirms you qualify and all the paperwork is finished, the bail bondsman will go to court to post the bail. The bail bondsman serves as the link between the defendant, the court, and the bail bonds company.
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Take Responsibility for the Accused
The role of a Big Bear bail bonds service does not end when they post bail for your loved one. They need to monitor the accused to ensure they do not skip bail or break any bail conditions. The bail bonds company may hire a bounty hunter if the accused misses a court appearance. A bounty hunter finds people who skipped bail and returns them to court.
Who is a Bounty Hunter?
If you are released from jail through a bail bonds service and attempt to escape, you are considered a fugitive, and a warrant will be issued for your arrest. When you flee, it is necessary for someone to locate and capture you to return you to court. This is the role of a bounty hunter. A bounty hunter is a licensed or trained expert responsible for locating and capturing fugitives on behalf of the bail bonds company. Many states have regulations governing bounty hunters, and four states completely prohibit it.
Bounty hunters earn a percentage of the total bail amount, usually between 10% and 20%. They receive this payment after successfully locating, tracking, and capturing the fugitive. Many bounty hunters have experience in criminal justice or private investigation and focus on finding and apprehending suspects. Bounty hunters help bail bond companies recover their losses and support the community by returning fugitives to the court. A bail bondsman may also act as a bounty hunter in some states.
Who Is a Co-signer?
If a person cannot afford a bail bond on their own, they may ask someone else to help them—this person is called a co-signer. The cosigner agrees to ensure that the defendant appears in court and may have to cover the cost if the defendant does not follow the conditions. Cosigning bail bonds is a serious commitment and should be thought about carefully.
What Happens To The Posted Bail When The Case Concludes?
Bail is not a punishment for your crimes. Therefore, the result of your criminal case will not affect whether you receive your bail money back. If you posted cash bail, you will receive the total amount you paid to the court. If you used a property bond, the court will lift their lien claim on your property. For federal bonds, receiving a refund is not automatic. You will need to file a petition to release the federal bond money.
You will receive your bail money back if the defendant appears in court and follows all bail conditions. If the defendant violates the bail conditions, you will lose the posted cash bail. Also, if the bail bonds company loses money, they will take the collateral you provided to cover their losses.
Jail and Court Information in Big Bear
Here are some important details for detention centers and courts in Big Bear, CA:
Riverside County Jail
4000 Orange Street,
Riverside, California,
92501,
Big Bear Lake Jail
477 Summit Boulevard,
Big Bear Lake, California,
92315,
Victorville Superior Court
14455 Civic Drive,Victorville, California,
92392,
Find a Reliable Big Bear Bail Bonds Company Near Me
Receiving a call from a loved one who is in jail is very upsetting. It is even more distressing if you are the one waiting in jail for your trial to determine your case. In California, you can be released before your trial unless you face a serious crime that could lead to life imprisonment. In most cases, you can post bail and go home. Not everyone who is arrested is guilty of the charges. Being able to go home allows you to return to work, be with your loved ones, and avoid the hardship of staying in jail.
Unfortunately, the courts can set bail amounts that are too expensive, and not everyone can afford to pay them in cash. Bail bonds are available for families who cannot afford cash bail. This involves working with a bail bonds company to provide the necessary bail amount. At Riverside Bail Bonds, we know how hard it is to see a loved one in jail. We offer fast and easy bail solutions in Big Bear, CA. Call us now at 951-788-2663 to speak with one of our bail bondsmen.
