Laguna Niguel is a city on the beach, in iconic Orange County, where there are no such thing as cloudy days. Laguna Niguel may be a luxurious place to live and raise a family. However, Laguna Niguel, like all cities, is susceptible to rising crime rates. Because there is a higher influx of tourists in the area, these statistics positively correlate with a higher crime ratio. We understand that people make mistakes that can cause humiliation and regret, but it is important to know there are options in easing the discomfort of such a situation. If you or a loved one is confronted with an unexpected arrest, regardless of the severity, your first call should be to a bail agency that you trust. When you are charged with a crime, it is assumed that you will want to fight your case with all of your entitled freedoms and respects. By obtaining bail, this enables you to access all of the resources necessary in building a strong defense for your case from the convenience of your home. However, bail can be a financial hardship for most families, so that is why there is a dire need for bail agents who can make these costs affordable to families of all economic backgrounds. A bail agent will walk you through the process of obtaining bail and explain to your best options in approaching your case. You may be tasked now with the issue of finding such an agent but look no further! Riverside Bail Bonds has been long established in Laguna Niguel, and all of Orange County, for over 17 years! Our agents are reliable, fast, compassionate, and they will get the job done no matter the difficulty. We will help you to make informed decisions on your case with the utmost confidence and security, so that you can focus on the more grueling task of creating a case. No one should have to face the consequences of an arrest on their own when there are better alternatives. Call us today at 951-788-2663 and we will have an agent ready to walk you through the thirty-minute application and get you one step closer to freedom. If you are still confused as to how this process works, read further and we explain the steps to obtaining bail.
The Booking Process
Soon after being arrested, the defendant will be taken to the closest available jail facility in Laguna Niguel. This is when the booking process begins. The booking process mainly consists of assigning an inmate to a cell and gathering and posting the information related to the case. This step must be completed before the bail can be established. Bail is posted either by bail schedule or by bail hearing. A schedule is a predetermined list of bail charges, assigned by a judge, that speed along the bail process. A schedule is typically only used for misdemeanor and common crimes. On the other hand, if you are facing a more high-profile charge, it is likely that you will be asked to wait until a bail hearing can be scheduled to be assigned a bail charge. Regardless of how you wait for bail, we encourage you to contact a bail agent immediately after being made known of an arrest so that our bail agents can begin to gather the proper paperwork to speed along your case. We will do everything in our power to simplify this complex process, so that you may focus on what really counts, building your defense. We want every decision you make to be confident and fully informed, so feel free to ask us any questions if you ever feel uncertain. The application can be completed by phone and only takes as long as thirty minutes. You will then be one step closer to obtaining your freedoms.
Your Options
The first thing you should know is that all American citizens are granted a right to bail under the 8th amendment of the constitution. This right can only be taken away at the discretion of a judge if the given defendant poses either a flight risk to or a danger threat to the community. If you feel that your rights have been violated in any way, however, you should immediately contact legal assistance. There are many options in obtaining bail, and we will gladly walk you through them to ensure you are making the best decision for yourself or loved one. In some cases, a bail charge is not even required to be released from custody. This is known as being released upon your own recognizance, and generally only occurs when a judge deems a defendant as no danger of flight risk or further threat. Keep in mind, it is also only granted to individuals that are facing minimal charges, such as a misdemeanor. However, because this situation is unlikely, it is most commonly required for the defendant to pay a bail charge. Fortunately, there are options to make this more affordable, which we will shortly demonstrate.
Your first option is to approach paying off your bail charge in full. This is generally referred to as paying with a cash bond. This option is relatively fast and efficient, but that does not always mean it is the best or most affordable option. Bail can be very expensive, often ranging from 5 to 20 thousand dollars. The average American family struggles to pay the monthly bills. This can be extremely concerning when a family needs to come up with this great amount of money in such short notice. Especially, when paying in full can take weeks to be reimbursed after the case is completed. For these reasons,Riverside Bail Bonds recommends taking out a bail bond, which substantially lowers the cost of bail. We also offer a wide variety of in-house financing options to accommodate families of all economic backgrounds. We can discuss your situation and work out an option that is most viable to you. Likewise, we accept a range of payments such as cash, check, debit, credit, cashier’s check, money order, and collateral. We do this to make the option of a bail bond feasible to all people. No one should have to take on the financial hardship of bail when there are options to ease this burden. The best option of these different bonds, which we will thoroughly explain, is the surety bond.
The surety bond, also referred to as a bail bond, is a signed contract with a bail agent, promising to follow all of the stipulations set in place by a judge in exchange for a discounted bail fee. What this really means is that you will only be asked to pay a percentage of the bail charge as a premium fee to an agent, who then covers the rest of the cost in trade for your compliance. This premium is nonrefundable or negotiable to ensure the bail agent can make a small profit. However, this is a minimal price for the security and assurance of fighting your case from the convenience of your home. Your next question might be, what is the price of such a premium? You will be pleased to know that this premium is a fixed rate of 10%, as mandated by California law to protect the co-signer and the bail agency in paying a fair price. Bail bonds are sure sound way to ensure that you or your loved one can have all of their entitled freedoms while defending their case. This is a great benefit to those who otherwise would not be able to afford such a privilege. Nonetheless, if this option is not convenient to your special circumstances, there are also alternative options that may also suffice, such as a property bond.
Property bonds, unlike surety bonds, cannot be passed on to another individual and must be anchored with collateral. These types of bonds are typically utilized in cases involving illegal immigration, when mandated by a judge. This is simply due to the fact that it further reinforces that the defendant remains in the country while tending to their legal responsibilities. Regardless of the purpose, a property bond must be reinforced with collateral. This collateral can be any item that amounts to one and a half times the value of the bond. This overage is crucial to assuring that the additional restitutions involved in anchoring property are covered. Examples of this collateral can be jewelry, vehicles, real estate, and other valuable items. The downside to a property bond, is that it takes weeks longer than the typical bond to process. This sort of defeats the point of having a fast and efficient option. Likewise, as we mentioned earlier, a property bond cannot be passed on to another person. This means that if the co-signer decides they no longer want their property anchored by the bond, they will have to fill out the appropriate paperwork to cancel it and return the defendant to custody. This is inconvenient to the defendant who will spend the remainder of the case in custody. However, if the bond is revoked by a judge, the protocol is different. When a judge chooses to relinquish the bond, the defendant will be given thirty days to return to custody. If the defendant does not comply, the property will be seized and sold at auction to cover the cost of the bail fee. Any remaining restitutions will be paid, and the left-over value will be returned to the co-signer. Taking on the role of a co-signer is a great responsibility and should not be taken lightly. Keep in mind also that we do not recommend this option when it can be avoided.
The Release Process
After you have decided upon a bail option, a bail agent will be sent to the jail to file discharge papers. This process can take anywhere from 3 to 12 hours, depending on the capacity of the jail. You may think at this point that you can relax; however, this is the last thing you want to do. Every decision you make from the point forward can directly impact the outcome of your case, and thus, great attention should be taken to every decision made onward. Your first action, upon being released, should be to contact the proper resources and legal team to defend your case. We will gladly offer our recommendations for those in the Laguna Niguel area. It is also a great time to return to work or familial responsibilities, as well as to get your affairs in order in the event that a conviction and further jail time is imposed. We will do our part by making sure you have all the essential information to making these decisions on behalf of your case. We will go through every insecurity and answer your burning questions and concerns. We simply ask that you keep us updated on changes to your case and contacts.
Another important factor to take into consideration of your case, is that bail can be relinquished at any time if you fail to comply with all orders set into place by a judge. As a co-signer, these stipulations involve keeping all contact and case information updated and accurate between the bail agency and the courts. These stipulations expand when applied to the defendant. A judge will likely request that the defendant attend all court hearings, remain within the jurisdiction of the court, avoid further criminal charges (including violations of restraining orders if applicable), and checking in with your bail agent on a weekly basis. If at any time these regulations are violated, a judge will issue a bench warrant, and, like a property bond, the defendant will be given thirty days to return to custody. If the defendant does not return to custody, at this point the co-signer will be held responsible for paying the entirety of the bail fee. This is why we stress that taking on the responsibility of being a co-signer is a choice that should be given a lot of thought before committing to. However, Riverside Bail Bonds will be there to protect both the co-signer and the defendant in this process. In fact, we write resumption of liability letters, free of charge, in the event that bail is relinquished, and the co-signer is facing immense fees. These letters are necessary to restore bail and protect the co-signer from such burden and are generally priced at $100-$200 by other businesses in the area.
What to do Now?
Facing an arrest can be a frightening experience, to say the least, but it does not have to be! There tends to be misguided opinions about bail agents and the bail agency, but Riverside Bail Bonds strives to break this stereotype. You see, we have recognized that there is a great lack of compassion in the bail industry and we operate to change this lack. Our agency is family owned and operated, thus we do everything we can to put our client’s feelings first and treat them as if they are our own. You will not find better customer service anywhere in all of Orange County for such an affordable rate and speed. Likewise, you will not find an agent more experienced or competent. Our agents have decades of experience in the bail agency and understand the inner workings of Laguna’s court operations. Because of this, they know exactly what tactics to employ in order to ensure the bail is processed fast and correct.
One way we ensure that your bail is handled in the fastest manner is by keeping our office open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No one can fully apprehend that an arrest is going to take place, and we do not expect you to. We serve an ever-changing justice system by being flexible in our availability to you. There is never a time that you can give us a call and we will not answer. It also crucial to know that we take your privacy immensely serious. Everything we do on your behalf is treated with 100% confidentiality. We will never use your private information for anything more than bettering your case. It is not our interest to promote our business at the expense of your security. You can confide in us with confidence that you are in good hands.
The bail process can be intimidatingly complex to those who are not experienced in how to approach it. Fortunately, that is not your job. It is in your best interest to contact a bail agent and focus on building your case. Give Riverside Bail Bonds a call today at 951-788-2663 and we will assist you from start to finish.
