When you face an arrest for violating California laws, the court orders your detention in different facilities. Most defendants are eligible for a release while their case is pending by posting bail. Bail allows defendants facing criminal charges in California to secure a release before trial.
You can post a cash, property, or bail bond, depending on your financial capacity. Bail bonds are desirable due to their convenience and cost-effectiveness. You will benefit from your financial assistance and expert guidance at King Stahlman Bail Bonds if you need a bail bond for yourself or a loved one. Our La Mesa bail bondsmen are available 24/7 to ensure your bail process is fast and convenient.
Bail in La Mesa
You post bail to a court clerk before the release of a defendant. After the judge has set your bail, you can pay it through these means:
- Cash bail. With cash bail, you pay the full bail before the release. This is a fast way to release someone and does not involve third parties.
- Property bond. Courts in California allow you to present real estate property value in exchange for a release from detention. The court will dictate the acceptable property value, given your bail amount.
- Surety bond. A surety bond becomes the only option for defendants with no financial capabilities to pay cash or present property for a bond. With this kind of bail, a La Mesa bail bonds company will give you the financial help you need for the bail. In exchange for their services, you will pay a fee of 10% of the original bail.
Bail Forfeiture in La Mesa
Bail is not a penalty for your offense in California. You could recover the money you paid if the defendant meets all the bail conditions and is present for all their court hearings. A bail forfeiture occurs when the court fails to return property or money used for bail. Often, this is the most dreaded outcome of a bail process, resulting in a loss for the person or company that posted bail.
A bail forfeiture may be a result of the following circumstances:
Failure to Return to Court
If the court releases you on bail, you must be present for all court proceedings, including trial. When a court schedules your hearing, they will notify you through your attorney or by a notice sent to your address. The court will forfeit your bail if you skip the court dates without a valid explanation.
You Violate Release Conditions
A bail release benefits defendants by allowing them to go home and be with their families as their court case. However, the judge attaches some conditions to your release. Your La Mesa bail bondsman will help you understand your specific conditions. Although the bail conditions vary depending on the nature of your offense, common conditions include:
- Travel restrictions. You may need to surrender your travel documents to the court and leave the jurisdiction after informing the court.
- Avoiding criminal activity. You should not engage in criminal acts when you are out on bail.
- Surrender firearms. You will lose your right to purchase or possess a firearm while on bail.
- Protective orders. If you committed a crime by causing harm to another person, the court can issue a restraining order against you. This means that you should avoid all forms of contact with the victims of your acts while on bail.
The judge can forfeit your bail if you violate one or more of these conditions. If you post cash bail, a forfeiture means that you cannot recover the amount you presented, which can result in extreme financial loss. For defendants who post property bonds, the court auctions the property during a forfeiture.
A forfeiture for a surety bond takes a longer time. If you posted bail using a La Mesa bail bonds company, the court may give the company time to find a fleeing defendant and return them for trial. Under these circumstances, the La Mesa bail bondsman will hire a bounty hunter who can find the defendant.
Most bounty hunters in California have served as law enforcement officers. Therefore, they have the necessary skills to locate and return a defendant to court. The court holds a bail forfeiture hearing before forfeiting a bond. At this hearing, your surety company must explain why the defendant did not appear in court to avoid losing its money.
Reasonable explanations that could help prevent a forfeiture include:
- Lack of notice. The court must notify you of all the court dates through the address you provided after a bail release. You can avoid a bail forfeiture by claiming you did not receive the notice. However, you will not use this explanation if you change your address.
- You were in jail. You can explain away your failure to appear for your court dates by proving that you were in detention at the time of the hearing. But you must know that committing other offenses while on bail violates bail conditions.
- You were in the hospital. If you were at the hospital during the court hearing, you may be exempt from a bail forfeiture.
If a defendant dies after posting a surety bond, the La Mesa bail bonds service can avoid forfeiture by proving the defendant's death.
Jails in La Mesa, CA:
Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego
808 Union St.
San Diego, CA 92101
Western Region Detention Facility
220 West C St.
San Diego, CA, 92101
Courts serving La Mesa, CA:
Superior Court, East County Division
250 E Main St.
El Cajon, CA, 92020
Find Expert Bail Bond Services Near Me
People who face arrests and detention awaiting trial can make at least one phone call. If your loved one or friend calls you from jail, you must act quickly to ensure a fast release for them. You can have them home quickly by posting their bail, even when their case is pending.
The fastest and most convenient way of posting bail for an inmate in California is through a surety bond. A surety company offers this kind of bond and charges a 10% service fee. At King Stahlman Bail Bonds, we will offer you the help you require for an affordable, less strenuous bail release. Call our Bail bondsmen today at 619-232-7127 to discuss your situation.