Just because you’ve been arrested, it doesn’t make you a criminal. You haven’t been convicted of a crime yet. This means that you don’t have to sit in jail awaiting your trial.
Unless there are extreme circumstances, you will have a certain amount of bail set. This is done by a judge at a bail hearing.
Sometimes the bail hearing process is automatic. With other types of crimes, you may have to submit a request for the hearing.
The amount of bail will probably be paid with a bond. This assures the court that you will appear for your set date(s.)
We’re going to take a look at how to post bail and bond out of jail, determine how much a bail bond is, and if you can bail yourself out of jail (and not have to wait on friends or family.)
Keep reading for some helpful information on what is considered by many to be one of the worst days of their lives.
Bail Hearings
If your bail is not set by a judge quickly, you may have to request for a bail hearing. This is one of many possible hearings but will determine your immediate freedom.
In California, every county has their own bail schedule. Meaning that common crimes from misdemeanors to felonies have a certain amount of bail associated with them.
The good news for you is that amount is ultimately determined by the judge. For a minor charge or a first offense, he may show mercy and set a low bail amount.
The last option at a bail hearing is no bail. The judge has every right to decline release if he feels you are a threat to society or a flight risk.
How to Post Bail: General Jail Bonds
Getting a jail bond is a relatively simple process. However, you should be sure that your bail bondsman is legitimate and licensed.
In most people’s experience, hiring a bail bondsman recommended by an attorney is the best way to go. This is because the bondsman has a reputation to uphold with the referral source in order to keep getting new business from them.
When choosing a bail bondsman, you’ll want to find the one with the best experience. Experience often comes with a price but is worth it when talking about your freedom.
This doesn’t mean a bail bondsman will clean your wallet out. In fact, there are many companies that are very affordable.
With the combination of experience and affordability, you can’t go wrong. Affordable bail bondsmen will sometimes be the ones all of the inmates talk about. Sometimes, you have to do a bit of digging.
Other Information
A bail bondsman is acting as a third party insurance. This means they are making sure you appear in court because they’re the ones buying your freedom for the time.
As long as you show up to court when you’re supposed to, you probably won’t have many more dealings with the company.
Most bail bondsmen charge a slight fee for their services. It usually isn’t a whole lot, but it does vary. It is somewhat like paying a premium for your “get out of jail” card.
While looking for a bail bondsman, cheaper does not always equal better. A company charging an extremely low rate may be operating illegally or have other issues. If you find a company wanting an outrageously low amount of money, RUN.
All of the money paid to a bail bondsman is non-refundable. However, you will have your freedom until your trial. Given you’re not sentenced to jail, you will keep your liberty and not have to worry about any more time behind bars.
There are many fears about having to report your whereabouts to your bail bondsman or having to make other commitments to keep your freedom. For minor crimes, it’s often a non-issue that doesn’t even come up.
One of the oddball requirements for a bond might be having to put a breathalyzer in your car after being arrested for multiple DUIs. Other than that, the requirements aren’t many nor hard to meet.
When you have a failure to appear in court, the judge will issue a bench warrant for your arrest. At this point, you may have the arresting agency looking for you, marshals (city or federal) looking for you, and the bail bondsman looking for you.
One of the best parts of using a bail bondsman is they will not only speed up your release but also aid in the paperwork you will need to file.
Getting Out of Jail (not) Free
You’ve probably noticed a common theme here: getting out of jail is not free.
If you or a loved one has landed in jail, obviously steps should be taken to get out. Regardless of whether the incarcerated person is found guilty, sitting in jail is NOT fun.
A few people keep an attorney on retainer. If that’s you, ask him who he’d recommend to help you bond out of jail. Most people don’t keep attorneys on retainer, so in that case, do some research beforehand, then call (866) 945-2245.
Bail bondsmen with experience in many areas can go a long way in helping to move on from this episode. Often, the best bondsmen are the ones you immediately connect with.
Some bondsmen will treat you like you’re a convicted criminal. Some may act holier than thou. That shouldn’t be the case. Everyone knows the police make mistakes and put people behind bars on a hunch.
Look for someone that treats you like an old friend and understands your situation. This is the true mark of great customer service and we take pride in carrying it through the whole bonding process.
Trying to get out can be scary and the amount of bail intimidating. But figuring out how to post bail won’t be hard if you keep us in mind.
We will give you an estimated release time, and help the release process along. If you end up incarcerated, especially for the first time, it’s a shock being there. Just know, we can help find a way out.
Hopefully, you don’t end up in jail. But if you do, we’re only a call or click away. For quick reference: (866) 945-2245.