Even if you’ve never been arrested, you’ll likely have heard of bail. It’s referenced time and time again in movies and television shows, which means most people have a vague grasp of what it is and how it works. There’s much to know about this important part of the judicial system, which allows defendants to (temporarily) leave jail and prepare for their court case in the comfort of their own homes.
How Bail Works
If you’ve been arrested, then you’ll be taken to a jail cell. But at this point, you’ve only been charged with a crime — you haven’t been found guilty by a jury. Your court case will take place in the future, likely several months later.
It’s bail that allows you to leave jail until you’re due in court. A bail amount (in dollars) will be set by the local judge, and if it’s paid by the defendant (or by someone else on their behalf), then they’ll be allowed to return home with a guarantee that they’ll show up on the date of their trial. Returning home allows the defendant to fully prepare their defense before going to court.
What Influences The Cost of Bail?
Bail amounts can vary widely depending on the nature of the crime, with more serious crimes attracting higher bail values. In extreme cases, bail may be refused entirely — this often happens when the crime is particularly serious or if the defendant poses a flight risk.
California counties have their own “standardized” bail values which refer to the minimum bail amount for each crime. In most cases, that’ll constitute the cost of bail. However, the judge will also consider the specifics of the crime, the background of the defendant, and whether they have been in trouble with the law before, in which case the bail amount may be increased.
How Bail Bonds Work
California is known for having high bail values. Even people charged with relatively low-level crimes may have to pay thousands of dollars to secure their release from jail. It’s not uncommon to have bail values that run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Most people do not have tens of thousands of dollars readily accessible. In that case, they’ll have two options: they can stay in jail until their trial, or they can recruit the services of a bail bond agent. A bail bondsman will pay the full bail amount on behalf of the defendant in exchange for a fee, which is paid by the defendant. This fee is usually 10% of the overall bail value; for instance, if bail is set at $10,000, the agent would charge the defendant $1,000.
The Bail Bond Process
It can be frightening to find yourself behind bars after being arrested — and it’s even scarier to think that you’ll remain there until your case goes to trial. The bail bond process is an effective way to ensure that you can return home as soon as possible. Below, we’ll run through the step-by-step bail bond process so you can see how straightforward it can be.
Contacting King Stahlman Bail Bonds
You’ll be granted a phone call when you’re behind bars. It’s at this point that you should call King Stahlman Bail Bonds. You can reach our San Diego office 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 619.232.7127. While on the phone, a member of our team will take your information.
Coming to an Agreement
Once we’ve found out the details of your bail, we’ll discuss your options with you to come to a repayment agreement. We provide a range of payment options, ensuring there’s a solution for everyone.
Getting You Out Of Jail
Once you’ve signed our paperwork, we’ll get to work on posting your bail and getting you out of jail. We have a lot of expertise and experience in this field, so you can have peace of mind that your bail will be posted as quickly as possible. Once the money has been paid, the jail will process their own paperwork, and within a few hours you’ll be released and on your way home.
How Bail Bonds Help Defendants
The bail system works, but in its original form — defendants paying the bail amount themselves — it’s beyond the reach of most people. For these people, bail bonds can make all the difference.
Gets You Out of Jail
The number one benefit of working with an experienced bail bond agent is that it’ll get you out of jail. Nobody wants to spend any longer behind bars than necessary. A bail bond agent can ensure that your bail bond is posted as quickly as possible, ensuring that you can return home to your family and begin preparing for your defense from the comfort of your own home.
Helps You Financially
Most people don’t have access to the tens of thousands of dollars they need to post bail. But even if you could technically put together the money you need to post bail, it’s usually better to work with a bail bond agent instead. The courts usually only return bail money several months after the conclusion of the trial, which means you’ll have to wait a long time before the money is back in your account.
Additionally, bail bond agents work discreetly; they can pay your bail on your behalf, which means you can get out of jail without having to ask friends and family members to provide money for bail. It’s the best solution for people who want to keep their legal issues under wraps.
Contact Us Today
If you’ve been charged with a crime, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with King Stahlman Bail Bonds. We have more than fifty years of experience of working in this field and have built a great reputation among our customers for working with professionalism, efficiency, and care. You can contact our team by calling 619.232.7127.