When someone is arrested, they’ll usually be put into a jail cell until they ‘post bail,’ which is a sum of money that allows the defendant to go home until they’re due back in court for their court appearance. If the arrested person does not have the capital required to post bail, then they’ll either have to stay in jail until their court date or they can enter into an agreement with a bail agent, who will pay the bail amount on their behalf in exchange for a fee.
What is a Bail Bond?
You can think of bail as something of a guarantee that the arrested person will show up in court when they’re due. In the meantime, they are free to return home to their family. The problem with bail in California is that they’re usually set extremely high; in many cases, the judge will set bail that runs into the thousands — sometimes even tens of thousands. And that’s just an amount of money that most people don’t have readily available.
This is where bail bond agents come in. Rather than the defendant having to pay the full bail amount themselves, they can enter into an agreement with a bail bond agent, who will provide the money for bail in exchange for a fee. In California, this fee is usually set at 10% of the overall cost of bail. Once the bail bond has worked their magic, the defendant is free to go home under the condition that they will show up for their court date.
How Bail Amounts Are Set
The constitution dictates that bail amounts must be set at a reasonable level. Unfortunately, the state of California has its own interpretation of what counts as ‘reasonable,’ and as such, many arrested people are left with a bail value that they cannot easily pay.
Each bail amount is set by the judge, though many courts have standardized amounts that apply to common crimes. When deciding a defendant’s bail value, the judge will consider factors that include:
- The crime that has been committed.
- The background of the defendant.
- Prior warrants/arrests.
- The flight risk posed by the defendant.
Even comparatively low-level crimes can result in a bail of tens of thousands, with more serious crimes running into the millions of dollars. Working with a bail bond agent is, therefore, often the only reasonable way to post bail for most people. Bail bond agents typically charge 10% of the overall amount (for instance, if bail is $10,000, then the fee would be $1,000).
Understanding the Bail Bond Process
Being arrested and taken to a jail cell can be a frightening experience. But it’s important to have an understanding of how the bail bond process works because it’ll be that that will allow you to go home as soon as possible. Even if you can get the money together to pay bail on your own, it can often be better to work with a bond agent if you can’t access the money instantly.
Here’s how the process works:
You Contact King Stahl Bail Bonds
You’ll have the opportunity to make a phone call when you’re in jail. It’s at this point that you should give us a call here at King Stahl Bonds at 619.232.7127. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; whenever you need us, we’ll be there to pick up the phone.
We Come to an Agreement
We’ll take the time to gather some details about you, including some of your personal background and your bail amount. At that point, we’ll come to an agreement regarding the fee for our services and how you’ll pay. Once you’ve signed the agreement, we’ll move on to the next stage.
We Get You Out of Jail
Once everything has been agreed, we’ll begin filing the paperwork and pay your bail. At that point, the prison will need a few hours to process their own paperwork, at which point you will be free to return home until you’re due back in court.
Why Use King Stahl Bail Bonds?
King Stahl Bail Bonds is not the only bail bond company in San Diego, but we are the best. We’ve helped many people post bail and return home to their families. Some of the many reasons why it’s best to work with us include:
We Have Experience
Experience counts for a lot in the world of bail bonds. At King Stahl Bail Bonds, we have more than fifty years of experience helping people get out of jail. When you work with us, you can have peace of mind that you’re in reliable hands and that we’ll do everything we can to make the process as smooth as possible for you.
We Offer Affordable Rates
There are rules surrounding how much bail bond agents can charge for their services. Unfortunately, many agents find ways to bend those rules. At King Stahl, we’re upfront about how much our services will cost, and we’re proud to offer affordable rates. We also offer a variety of payment methods for additional peace of mind.
We Will Get You Home Faster
With plenty of experience and expertise, you can have confidence that we’ll get you home as quickly as possible. Our phone lines are open 24/7, so whenever you find yourself behind bars, know that we’re only a phone call away from helping you get back home where you belong.
Get In Touch With King Stahl Bail Bonds Today
We’ve developed an excellent reputation in San Diego and the surrounding areas thanks to the professionalism and efficiency of our team. If you or a loved one is arrested and taken to jail, then be sure to get in touch with a member of our team as quickly as possible. You can reach our San Diego office by calling 619.232.7127, and we’re also available in Chula Vista, North County, and East County. It’s worthwhile saving our number just in case you find yourself behind bars; you’ll hope you never need it, but will be glad you have our information if you do.
Additional Bail Bonds Topics
We specialize in “emergency crisis management” for your KING-SIZED problems and we are known for being trustworthy, discrete, affordable and fast-acting. As we like to say, “It’s better to know me and not need me, than to need me and not know me,” so don’t hesitate to call King Stahlman Bail Bonds 24 hours a day, seven days a week.