An arrest does not automatically result in lost freedom. You are eligible for a pretrial release regardless of the charges you face. Criminal court judges grant defendants bail release, allowing them to attend their trial from home. The court can only order your detention if a jury trial finds you guilty of an offense that requires incarceration.
The challenge is costly, making it unaffordable for most defendants. However, that does not mean you will remain in jail after your arrest because you cannot afford a bail release. We can help at Riverside Bail Bonds after your arrest in Dana Point. Our bail bond is timely, easy to access, and fast. We will ensure you are out of police custody immediately after the arrest.
How Pretrial Releases Work
When the police arrest you for breaking the law, it only means that you are a suspect. You are not guilty of any charge until a jury trial declares it after a fair trial. The law prohibits detaining suspected offenders until they are determined guilty through a trial. Thus, the police do not have the right to keep you in custody. They can book you, gather evidence against you, transfer your case to a prosecutor, and await a judge’s order for your release. Once you post bail, you can attend the trial from home.
Bail is usually an amount defendants pay to guarantee their court appearances. Criminal courts determine an approximate amount, and the judge decides the exact amount based on a defendant’s case details. Bail is generally expensive, even for a minor misdemeanor offense. Thus, you must be prepared to raise the required amount to regain your freedom. The court keeps the money up to the end of your trial, when you receive a full refund, regardless of the outcome.
It helps to know what happens after an arrest to avoid wasting more time in jail after your booking. Once the arresting officer books your personal information and case details in a police database, they will keep you in custody to wait for your first appearance before the judge. The first arraignment serves many purposes, including determining your charges, how your case proceeds, and your bail. The prosecutor files charges against you, based on the circumstances of your case. The judge will ask you to choose a plea during your first arraignment. You have three options: guilty, not guilty, and no contest.
If you enter a guilty plea, your case will go to sentencing. This means there will be no trial and no need for bail release. But if you choose a not guilty or no contest plea, the judge sets a trial date and discusses your bail.
The Amount You Pay For a Bail Release
There is usually no standard amount for bail. Judges set bail according to a defendant’s case details, criminal history, and the amount set by the bail schedule. You can quickly determine how much you will be charged for your case from the bail schedule, but judges always have the final say on the exact amount. Thus, you must wait until your first arraignment to know your bail amount and payment options.
When the judge brings up the bail matter in your first arraignment, the prosecutor will suggest an amount. Your attorney can request a reduced amount or a release of personal recognizance. The latter means that the court sets you free without requiring you to pay any amount to guarantee your court appearances. However, you must promise the court your readiness to go through a trial to be released on OR. If not, the judge will either agree with the prosecutor or your defense attorney or set an amount they deem fit for your case. Here are some of the factors the judge considers when setting bail:
Your Case Circumstances
Typically, bail is set according to the nature of the crime. California courts do not have bail for infractions because an infraction does not result in an arrest. However, they have bail schedules for misdemeanors and felonies. Since felonies are graver than misdemeanors, they will have a higher bail. Remember that some misdemeanors and felonies are graver than others. In that case, your bail will depend on the exact details of your case. A person who faces felony charges for a non-violent white-collar crime will likely pay a smaller amount than the one facing charges for a violent felony.
Judges set an even higher amount for graver felonies like rape and murder. If you cannot make bail, you will remain in jail until the conclusion of your case.
Your criminal History
Judges are more lenient with first-time defendants and can easily allow a release on their own recognizance. However, you must post bail for a pretrial release if it is your second or subsequent offense. The court can increase your bail if you have a severe criminal history. They could also deny you bail if you will likely offend after a bail release.
Your Likelihood to Flee The Court’s Jurisdiction
The judge will likely deny you bail if you are a flight risk. The law considers you a flight risk when you do not have a solid connection to the community that will keep you close to the court throughout the trial period. Strong connections include permanent jobs and families. Remember that the essence of bail is to allow you to attend trial from home, not to skip trial altogether. The judge will not grant bail if they are unsure of your readiness and willingness to attend trial.
How To Post Bail
Once the court determines your bail, they will give you payment options to enable you to obtain your freedom without spending more time in jail. You can post your bail right after your first arraignment. Then, you can quickly return to your family, job, business, and life. You can post bail in several ways, including the following:
In Cash
Cash bail is a popular way to post bail in California. As the name suggests, you pay the total in cash, check, or money order for the police to start your pretrial release. Remember that the court withholds your payment until your case ends when you receive it in full.
Cash bails are fast, easy, and transparent. You can post bail right after your first arraignment to avoid spending more time in police custody. However, it can be challenging to pay bail in cash if you do not have the total amount. Remember how expensive bail can be. Raising the total amount within hours of your arrest can be challenging. That is why you should consider other payment options.
In a property Bond
If you do not have enough cash for a cash bail but have a valuable asset, the court can accept it as a property bond for your freedom before trial. However, the asset’s value must be greater than the bail amount. The court will appraise the asset to determine its current market value and ensure all its documents are in order. Once you hand the asset to the court, the police will process your release. Regardless of the verdict, you will be given your assets back after your case.
However, it takes time for courts to process property bonds. This means that you could remain in jail much longer.
Through Dana Point Bail Bonds
Bail bonds are preferable for defendants who cannot afford cash bail or property bonds. They are offered by third-party businesses that provide financial assistance to defendants for a small profit. Many defendants work with bail bond companies because they are faster, more reliable, and affordable. If you cannot raise the entire bail, a bondsman can pay a small amount to the court, promising to pay the full bail if you fail to appear.
However, you must meet the conditions set by your preferred bail bondsman to benefit from their service. For example, a Dana Point bail bondsman will require you to pay a premium, which also serves as a fee for their service. They will also require you to make all court appearances to avoid losing more money through bail forfeiture.
Reasons to Choose Dana Point Bail Bonds
You are never prepared for an arrest. This means that you suffer a significant disruption in your life when it happens. If you have a regular job, a business to run, or a family to care for, you will likely lose so much if you remain in jail for an extended period. A bail release can save the day if it happens immediately after the arrest. While you cannot guarantee that you will have enough cash or a valuable asset to post bail, a bondsman can rescue you before you spend too much time in jail. Here are some of the reasons to consider Dana Point bail bonds after your arrest:
Bail Bonds Offer a Quicker Release from Jail
So much is usually at stake when you are arrested. You could lose your job, business, and the support of your family and friends. These worsen as you spend more time in jail. If you wait to raise the required cash bail, you will remain in detention longer than you can afford. Also, recall that it could take the court a long time to process a property bond. But a bail bondsman can act quickly to ensure you are out right after your arrest.
Bail bondsmen are always on standby, looking for clients to help. You can find one immediately after the first arraignment and process your release in just a few minutes. Dana Point bail bondsmen work very closely with courts and jails. You will find a reliable bail bondsman quickly and enjoy quick services and a timely release from jail.
Bail Bond Services Are More Affordable
When compared to cash bail, a bail bond service is more affordable. Remember that bail is generally expensive, even for a simple misdemeanor. Raising the required amount becomes extremely difficult for most defendants and their families. However, a bond dealer only wants you to raise 10% of that amount or less to obtain a pretrial release. It is easier to raise a small fraction of the bail than it would be to raise the entire amount.
Additionally, bail bondsmen offer flexible payments if you cannot pay the entire premium upfront. You can pay what you have and the rest in manageable installments according to your agreement with the bail bondsman. This removes the pressure of raising a substantial amount within a short period.
Bail Bondsmen Are Reliable
Bail bondsmen are always prepared to help defendants facing financial difficulties. Thus, they are highly reliable when you seriously need a pretrial release and cannot afford one. You can find reliable Dana Point bail bonds online or over the phone. Once you contact them, they will be willing to start the vail process immediately to minimize your stay in jail. The bondsman will visit you in jail and handle all court processes to ensure you are freed to return to your life. You can rely on a bondsman when you do not have the entire money to post cash bail or any valuable property to use as a property bond.
Bail Bondsmen Offer Timely Services
Additionally, bail bondsmen offer timely services. Finding financial help in the middle of the night or over the weekend is challenging. These are times when banks and other financial institutions are closed. If you want to post cash bail, you must wait until office hours to access your money or obtain financial help. That could translate to a prolonged stay in jail.
In contrast, bail bondsmen are available 24/7. You can begin the legal process with them during your arrest. If you do not want to waste precious time in jail or do not want people to find out about your arrest, you are better off engaging a bail bondsman.
Requirements for Dana Point Bail Bonds
Your best option today when posting bail after your arrest is bail bonds. You enjoy more benefits and the flexibility of working with a reliable, professional service. However, you must satisfy all the bondsman's requirements to enjoy their service. Requirements for bail bond services vary from one bondsman to another. Here are some of the requirements your bondsman could ask for:
A Co-signor
You could need a bail bond co-signor when seeking bail bond services. A co-signor can be your friend or relative. Their role will include contacting a bail bondsman and negotiating the terms of service on your behalf. They will also sign the required documents and provide all the details the bondsman needs to process your bail.
It helps to have someone close to you start the bail process as you go through other legal processes. This will speed up the matter and minimize your stay in police custody. Your co-signer will also negotiate for a favorable rate and assure the bail bondsman of your readiness to go through all court processes regarding your case.
Considering how much the bail bondsman will lose if you skip bail, the latter is essential. Recall that if the judge forfeits your bail, the bondsman will pay your entire bail. The bondsman must protect themselves against such losses; hence, there is a need for a co-signor who is willing and financially able to cover that loss.
A Collateral
Bondsmen also require collateral for bail bonds. Collateral can be anything valuable that the bondsman can hold until your case ends. If your case goes well and the court does not forfeit your bail, the bondsman will return the collateral to you when your case ends. Otherwise, the bondsman will sell the valuable asset to cover its losses if you fail to appear and the court forfeits your bail.
Fortunately, bail bondsmen accept all valuables as collateral, provided their value is more significant than your bail. For example, you can provide your art collections, equipment or appliances, vehicles, home, or jewelry.
Your Court Appearances
Finally, the bondsman will need to make all court appearances regarding your case without fail. They will work closely with you, encouraging you to attend trial and to honor all other conditions of your bail. Then, you will not suffer a financial loss or face additional charges for failing to appear.
Jail Info
Orange County Men's & Women's Central Jail
550 N Flower St Santa Ana,
CA 92703
Riverside County Jail
4000 Orange St Riverside,
CA 92501
California Institution for Men
14901 Central Ave Chino,
CA 91710
Court Info
San Diego Superior Court - North County
325 S Melrose Dr Vista,
CA 92081
Harbor Justice Center - Superior Court of California
4601 Jamboree Rd Newport Beach,
CA 92660
Old Orange County Courthouse
211 W Santa Ana Blvd Santa Ana,
CA 92701
Find Affordable Bail Bond Service Near Me
An arrest is upsetting and life-altering. It takes you away from your life, as you know it, due to stressful uncertainty. But you do not have to remain in jail long after your arrest. If you qualify for bail, you can obtain a pretrial release right after your arrest.
We can help you at Riverside Bail Bonds if you cannot afford bail after an arrest in Dana Point. In addition to being reliable and timely, our bail bonds are affordable. We only have a single charge for the entire service, which covers the premium and the fee. We do not have hidden charges that could result in additional costs. Call us at 951-788-2663 for more details about our service.
