Being in jail or under arrest is a worrying and scary experience, regardless of the seriousness of the alleged charge. Fortunately, most defendants have an opportunity to pay bail to keep their innocence until the final verdict of the alleged case. Bail is typically the money an arrestee must pay to the court clerk in exchange for their freedom because they aren't guilty of the accused charge yet.
Posting bail might not be a problem for a wealthy defendant, but what will you do if you do not have the required sum of money in cash and staying in jail is not an option?
If you cannot afford the needed cash, or perhaps you don't want your money tied up in the legal system, you should consider hiring a bail bond agent or bond dealer.
We invite you to contact bond dealers at Steven Mehr Bail Bonds for speedy bail services if you're in police custody in Compton. Our bond dealers understand how important it is to go back to your regular daily activities as you wait for oncoming court hearings to counter the criminal allegations against you.
The Difference Between Bail Amount and Bail Premium
After landing in jail, every arrestee or defendant's first thought is to post bail to be out of that place within the shortest time possible. To do that, you must first pass through the booking process, where the arresting officer will:
- Record details and evidence associated with the alleged crime
- Record your name and age
- Check your criminal record
- Take mugshots
- Thoroughly search your person for contrabands or dangerous weapon
Shortly after this mandatory procedure, the officer in charge will refer to the county bail schedule to determine the bail amount for the alleged case. If your offense requires a judge's intervention to determine the ideal bail amount you must pay, you’ll have to wait for about 24 hours for the bail hearing.
Typically, a bail amount is the sum of money you must pay upon an arrest to persuade the officers or the court to let you go home as you wait for the alleged charge trial date. Under the law, the purpose of this bail amount is to assure your appearance in court to prove your innocence on the alleged charge once you're out of police or court's custody.
Although the judge can still refer to the bail schedule when setting your ideal bail amount, in most cases, the amount you’ll pay as surety for your release will depend on the factors listed below:
- Chances that you can flee
- Your past criminal record
- Your history of missing court dates
- The sophistication and facts surrounding the alleged criminal offense
- Public/community safety
- Your financial resources or capability
- Your family ties
- Your ties or involvement in the community
- Lengthy of your stay or residence in the neighborhood
- Your history relating to alcohol or drug use
On the other hand, bail premium is the amount of money you’ll pay to the bond dealer as their services fee for posting your unaffordable bail. Typically, the bail premium the bond dealer will require from you or your close friend (cosigner) will be ten percent of the total scheduled bail amount.
That means, if the court requires you to pay a bail amounting to up to $4,000, you will pay the bond dealer $400 as their nonrefundable bail premium or services fee. In exchange, they will sign an official contract with the court presiding over the alleged offense, promising to make your bail payment when you fail or refuse to turn in court to defend your case.
Instead of struggling or burdening your family to pay your total bail in cash, you will only need to pay a small affordable percentage of your total bail amount to a bond dealer to post the bail on your behalf. Depending on your financial situation, a reliable bond dealer can even organize a payment plan that will work out in your favor to pay this bail premium without a hassle.
It is also worth noting that your prospective bond dealer may also require you to secure your release using a property of value (collateral). Depending on the total bail amount the court requires, the bond dealer may allow you to use any of the following valuable items as collateral:
- Cars
- Savings
- Investments
- Jewelry
- Boats
- Real estate
What You Should Focus on When Hiring a Bond Dealer
Many advantages come with using a bond dealer's services to secure your freedom upon an arrest. However, finding a dependable bond dealer is not a walk in the park, especially if it's your first time behind bars. To lessen the many options available, you may want to consider the following tips:
The Bond Dealer Availability or Accessibility
Because it is not uncommon for arrests to occur on holidays or at night when most people are asleep, a dependable bond dealer will be there for their clients all around the clock, seven days a week. Upon an arrest, an arrestee will not be willing to listen to automated messages once they call a bond dealer.
For that reason, reliable bond dealers work with an answering service to ensure prompt services to their clients who are probably behind bars. If your prospective bond dealer doesn't offer 24/7 services, you should consider calling the next available bond dealer because that is a red flag on their quality of services.
The Bond Dealer Experience
Although every expert was once an amateur at what they do, you should stay away from a bond dealer without experience in this industry. An experienced bond dealer can assure you of prompt and knowledgeable bail bond services because they have experience on how courthouses and jails in Compton operate.
Undoubtedly, every expert's skills increase over time as they deal with clients with different needs. Therefore, even if you need your freedom back within the shortest time possible, you should spare ample time to find an experienced bond dealer for exceptional and reliable services.
The Bond Dealer Reputation
What past clients of your prospective bond dealer say about their services means a lot when finding a reputable bail bond. To have an idea of your prospective bond dealer's reputation, you should use your phone or laptop to check their past clients' reviews on their website.
If the bond dealer has reputable and credible services, you should expect positive past clients' reviews about their services. Before you settle for the services of any bail bond dealer, you might also want to seek recommendations from your attorney and friends.
Your attorney's recommendations can also help you make the right choice when choosing a reputable bail bond dealer in this field full of mediocre people.
The Bond Dealer Licensing
As you might beware, every business or company must meet particular requirements before obtaining a license to carry out their services. Take your time to find a bond agent or dealer with proper and legitimate licensing credentials. A reliable and credible bond dealer will be willing to provide you with their licensing credentials to confirm whether or not they are legitimate or valid.
If your prospective bond dealer isn't licensed, you should shop around for another expert because that indicates undependability.
To have an outstanding experience during the bail process, you should spare ample time to find a dependable bond dealer. Don't settle with the first bond dealer you find without exhausting options in your area. The above tips can help you select the best Compton bail bond dealer or agency to help your loved one obtain their release from jail soon after an arrest.
Do's and Don'ts After Posting Bail
Securing a release from jail on bail comes with some conditions that you must comply with until your case is over. Although being out of jail is an indeed freeing experience, it doesn't mean you have a right to do whatever you wish while waiting for your court dates. Below is what you can and can't do after posting bail respectively:
What You Can Do
While waiting for your court dates after posting bail, there are several things you can do, including:
1. You Can Find or Retain Your Job
Not only is finding employment a condition of your release on bail, but it is also a beneficial step to raising enough money to help you in your defense. Keeping or finding a new job once you’re out of police custody can convince the court that you’re a productive community member.
2. You Can Attend Parties
Unless you are under house arrest as a condition of your release, attending Christmas, thanksgiving, or birthday parties would be reasonable after posting bail. However, it’s wise to recognize that you might be risking going back to jail if you attend a party where alcohol and drugs are present.
3. Have Friends Over
After paying bail, it is okay to have fun and reunite with your friends and cousins. Although the court may require you to stay away from drugs and alcohol, you can still host a responsible party in your house with friends to feel like you're living everyday life.
What You Can't Do
After posting bail, you might not want to partake in anything that would violate the conditions of your release because there are some legal consequences. If you do, the court will forfeit your bail, meaning you will be responsible for the total bail amount the bond dealer will pay to the court on your behalf. Typically, below is what you can't do after posting bail:
i. Stay Outside Past the Curfew
In most cases, the court will impose a curfew as a requirement for your release from jail or confinement on bail. Even if you think the law enforcement officer would never notice when you stay out past the curfew time, it is advisable not to do so to avoid running into trouble with the law.
ii. Miss Your Scheduled Court Dates/Appearances
Whatever you choose to do after paying bail, do not even think about missing a court date. Apart from forfeiting your bail, the court has the authority to order the police to track your whereabouts and return you to jail.
iii. Break the Law
Once you're out of jail on bail, even a minor charge could result in serious repercussions. For that reason, it is advisable to stay away from people who could tempt or entice you to “break” or violate the law, for example, felons or drug dealers.
iv. Possess a Weapon
Even if the court didn't forbid you from carrying a gun, it’s advisable to stay away from weapons after posting bail. If you're already in trouble with the law, you might not want to ask for more possible problems.
v. Use Alcohol/Drugs
The court may also require you to abstain from using drugs or alcohol once you’re free from jail, especially if your behavior is questionable when you are under the influence. If the court requires you to abstain from drugs, you should be ready to submit to regular drug testing until your case is over.
When you abide by your bail requirements and restrictions as required, the judge will exonerate your bail, regardless of the trial outcome. In that case, the bond dealer will no longer be responsible for assuring your appearance in court. If they had your item as collateral, you should anticipate it back soon after the exoneration of your bail.
If you want to bail a loved one out of jail in Compton, you will need the following helpful information:
Jail Address
Compton Sheriff's Station
Courthouse Address
Compton Courthouse
Find a Compton Bail Bond Near Me
Posting your loved one's bail will help them continue with their life before the final verdict of the alleged charge. We invite you to call Steven Mehr Bail Bonds at 800-834-8522 if you or perhaps someone you care for needs prompt and affordable bail bond services in the city of Compton, CA.
Our dedicated bond dealers are standing by 24/7, every day of the week, to ensure you or your friend is out of jail within the shortest time possible following an arrest.
