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When a relative or perhaps a friend is in need, it's natural to want to help them out. Posting bail for someone when they are arrested and charged with a crime can allow them to be released from jail until their trial begins. You might choose to help them out by posting bail in cash or securing a bail bond to pay for the bail amount that has been set.
However, there are a few reasons you might consider revoking bail after posting it. Perhaps you no longer want to be responsible for the person you're helping. You might feel that you can't trust them any longer, or the financial burden might have become too much for you.
But is it possible to revoke bail once it has been posted? Or do you have to accept that your money could be gone and your assets could be at risk? Understanding how it all works is important, and it's preferably something you should consider before you decide to post bail for someone. If you post bail for someone, can you revoke it?
Revoking Bail: Can you Revoke It?
If you're questioning or regretting your decision to revoke bail after posting it for someone else, the good news is that the option to revoke it does exist. The State of California gives you the opportunity to revoke bail if you want to, whether you posted cash bail or used other methods such as a bail bond to help pay for the full bail amount.
However, revoking bail isn't something to do lightly. It's important to understand the process and the potential costs to you. Following the right steps to make it happen is a must if you want to protect yourself. You will need to consider everything carefully before deciding whether revoking bail is the right decision.
Who Can Revoke a Bond?
If you have posted bail with the use of a bail bond, revoking bail will mean taking back the bond too. So who can revoke a bail bond and in what circumstances can they do it?
A bail bond can be revoked by a cosigner, the courts, or the bail bond company itself. If the court or bail bond company is the party to revoke the bond, it can also remove your responsibility as the cosigner. There are several reasons why either the court or bail bond company might revoke the bond. They include the defendant engaging in illegal activities, showing signs they are a flight risk, and refusing to wear a GPS tracker.
Understanding Revoked Bail: What Does It Mean?
What does revoking bail mean for you as the person who posted bail or cosigned a bail bond? When bail is revoked, it means that the defendant can no longer be released from jail or remain at home until their court date. Instead, they have to remain in jail (or be returned to jail) until their trial begins. If the bail conditions remain in place but you choose to revoke your cash bail or bail bond, the defendant will have to begin the pretrial process again.
For a cosigner, this can mean that much of the risk you take on can be removed. You may risk collateral or money in the future if the person you are vouching for doesn't follow the conditions of their bail. However, choosing to revoke a bail bond can also come at a financial cost to you. If the bail bond company needs to use bounty hunters to find the defendant, this could come at an additional cost to you. To avoid this, you could wait until the defendant is back in custody.
Revoking a Bond: How Does It Work?
There are several steps you will need to follow if you want to revoke the bail that you have posted for someone else. Firstly, inform the defendant of your intentions. There could be an agreement you can work out if you're willing to help them stay out of jail. However, if you choose to revoke bail, your next step is to contact the Legal Answering Service for the bail bond company. They will let the courts know. You can also help by letting the courts know where to find the defendant so they can be re-arrested.
Revoke Bond and Get Your Money Back: Is it Possible?
Do you get your money back if you choose to revoke a bail bond? Naturally, you don't want to be out of pocket, especially if someone has already let you down. However, if you choose to use a bail bond, you won't get your money back from the bail bond company. There's also the possibility of additional fees. If you put the whole bail amount up in cash, you can get your money back, but it will be minus some court fees.
Revoked Bail: What Happens Next?
It's important to know what happens next after bail has been revoked. Whether it's done by the courts, the bail bond company, or you as a cosigner, there are several things that will happen after bail has been revoked.
Because the bail amount has no longer been paid, the defendant must return to jail. They can do this voluntarily or will be re-arrested. Sometimes this might mean that the bail bond company sends bail enforcement agents (bounty hunters) to find them and bring them back into custody.
If the bail conditions set by the courts are still in place but the bail amount has been revoked, the defendant can go through the pretrial process again. They have the opportunity to find another way to post bail and secure their release. However, if a judge has decided to revoke bail, they will need to remain in jail until their trial. The courts will remove bail if the defendant is seen as a flight risk or is engaging in criminal activity.
If you regret posting bail for someone else, you do have the option to revoke it. However, it's important to consider that there could be some extra costs to you before you make a decision.