Many defendants will wish to be let out of jail as soon as possible so that they may keep their careers, care for their families, and prepare for their court appearances with a clear mind. Court proceedings can take weeks or months, so it's fair that individuals don't put their life on hold while waiting for a court date or a trial. Here is where bail bonds are crucial — posting bail can help you or your loved ones get out of bail as soon as possible. If you are looking for Rancho Santa Margarita bail bonds, our agents at Steven Mehr Bail Bonds are available 24/7 to help you.

What is the Difference Between Bail and Bail Bonds?

Bail is the money that defendants must pay to be freed from custody until their case is heard in court. The objective of posting bail is to ensure that defendants show up for their trials and any pre-trial hearings that they are required to attend. Bail bonds are a sort of security that is given as a guarantee that the accused will be released from jail.

Types of Bail Bonds in Rancho Santa Margarita

There are three basic options available. The three options are:

Cash Bail — A person who is released on cash bail must pay the entire bail amount in cash to the court or jail. The money will be held by the court until the defendant has appeared in all of his or her court cases and the matter has been resolved.

Surety Bond — This entails a contractual promise guaranteed by an admitted insurance firm with sufficient assets to pay the bond's face value. If a defendant fails to attend scheduled court hearings, the bail agent commits to the court that they will pay the bond forfeiture. The bail agent's guarantee is issued by a surety firm or by pledging his or her property.

Property Bond — The court records a lien on the property to secure the bail amount with a property bond. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail agent has the time and financial motivation to locate and bring the prisoner to court. Bail bonds for the property are rarely utilized.

How is Bail Amount Determined?

Most crimes are eligible for bail, however, a defendant's past is considered when the judge makes the judgment. The primary goal of setting bail is to ensure that the accused appears in court on their scheduled day.

 

How Rancho Santa Margarita Bail Bonds Work

Bail bond companies are normally open 24/7 because arrests can happen at any time. Payment and paperwork can often be handled electronically, which speeds up the process. The paperwork serves as a contract between the person posting bail and the defendant, ensuring that both parties are aware that they are committing to be responsible for the defendant's attendance at all court appearances. The paperwork will also mention some type of collateral that has been put in place to ensure that the person appears in court. The fees will also be discussed in the papers.

When contacting a bail agency, they will need the defendant's full name, booking number, and the charges for which they were arrested, as well as the location of the jail where they are being kept. The defendant will then be released on bail by the bail agent. When the bail bondsman arrives at the court, they are given the court date, a receipt, and any necessary papers so that the bail bondsman has all the information needed to follow up on the case.

If the offender fails to appear in court, the bail agent will be responsible for paying the whole amount of bail to the presiding court. The bail agent will then employ a bounty hunter to locate the defendant and return them to jail. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the person who took out the bail bond could lose their collateral or face further penalties, depending on the terms of their arrangement.

The Bail Hearing Process

The court will set the bail amount during a bail hearing. The judge will look at the specifics of the case as well as the nature of the offenses. Bail schedules are frequently publicized on the jails' websites. The judges will decide the bail amount at a bail hearing.

This is usually the suspect's initial court appearance following his or her arrest. In most cases, judges will make the same decision regardless of the offense. The judge will evaluate whether the offense was drug-related, violent, or nonviolent, as well as the defendant's character and history. If the offender is released while awaiting their court appearance, the judge will examine whether they pose a threat to society.

While defendants do not need a lawyer to post bail, having a criminal defense counsel can aid you at a bail hearing because both the defense and the prosecutor will have the chance to speak with the court about bail.

Judges may contemplate releasing a defendant on their own recognizance on rare occasions. This means that the defendant signs a formal agreement with the court indicating that they will follow the court's rules and that they will appear in court on their scheduled date.

There are no bail payments with this sort of bond, also known as a recognizance bond. A criminal defense lawyer may work out a deal with the judge and prosecution to get a recognizance bail. This type of bond will not be accepted in some instances. This will be determined by the sort of crime committed and whether or not the court considers the defendant a flight risk. Violent crimes, criminal crimes, and gang-related crimes are often not eligible for recognizance bonds.

How Long Does it Take to Get Released From Jail?

There are two types of jails. There are city jails run by police agencies and county jails run by the sheriff's office. It takes anything from 15 minutes to an hour for a defendant to be released on bond after being booked into a city jail, that is after their fingerprints and photographs have been taken and their warrants have been checked. It takes anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, and occasionally up to 24 hours, for a defendant to be freed on bail after being booked into the county jail.

Steps to Take if You Cannot Afford to Pay the Bail Amount for your Case

If the defendant cannot pay the amount of bail ordered, there may be several options including:

Request Lower Bail Amount

Through his or her criminal defense lawyer, a defendant might obtain a lower bond sum. This may be effective if the ordered bail sum is high and will put the defendant in financial hardship. Depending on the court's rules, such a request could be made at a bail hearing or an arraignment. However, the judge must decide whether or not to comply with this request at his or her discretion.

Putting Up Collateral

A defendant may be able to use real land, a valuable car, or other expensive property as collateral to secure the cost of a bond. When liquidating assets is difficult or impractical, using them as collateral can help secure the bail without actually selling the asset.

Use a Bail Bondsman

When a person hires a bail bondsman, the bail bondsman posts the entire amount of bail on the defendant's behalf and charges the defendant a percentage of the total bond, often 10% of the total bail sum. We at Steven Mehr Bail Bonds can help you post Rancho Santa Margarita bail bonds efficiently and as soon as possible.

Release on Your Own Recognizance

The defendant may be allowed to be released on his or her own recognizance in several circumstances. Instead of posting a bail bond, the defendant simply commits to showing up in court. This option is only available if the accused is not a flight risk and the crime is minor. This may also be an alternative if the jail does not have enough space to meet the capacity requirements.

Can You Get Your Bail Money Back After Your Case is Over?

Your cash bail will be restored if you show up for all of your court appearances. However, if you fail to appear in court for any reason, you may forfeit your cash bail and will not be able to recover the money.

How Bail Bonding Agencies Make Their Money

Bail bonding companies are businesses that pitch in to help defendants get out of jail by lending them money. To hand over the full amount of the money, most bail bonding services will charge roughly 10 percent of the total amount.

As a result, if a defendant's bail is set at $100,000, a bail bonding company will pay the court the full amount, but only as an assurance that the defendant will appear in court to face his or her charges. The bail bonding service will lose the entire bail bond if the prisoner fails to appear in court.

However, if the offender fails to appear in court, the bail bond company will receive a refund of the whole amount of the bail bond, minus certain administrative expenses. The defendant's down payment, on the other hand, is non-refundable.

Bail bond companies are not a must for defendants. In reality, it is less expensive if a defendant can pay the entire bond fee on his or her own. If a defendant can pay the entire bail amount, he or she will receive a full refund of the bail fee if they appear in court on his or her court date. Most people, however, do not have enough money to post bail and must enlist the help of a bail bondsman.

Bail bond companies may profit if a defendant posts real estate as security for bail. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail bond company may seize the real estate and sell it for a higher price than it paid for it. When a bonding service places a lien on a home and then sells it at foreclosure for the amount of the lost bail bond money, this is what happens.

How Much are Rancho Santa Margarita Bail Bonds?

Bail sums are determined by the kind of charge, whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony, any outstanding warrants on the offender's record, and any prior convictions and arrests. Bail bonds are a less expensive alternative. Normally, bail bonds are based on a fraction of the total bail amount, with different rates for issuing bail.

For instance, bailing out an individual who has been apprehended for domestic assault, which is a regular offense, would be something similar to $10,000 and $50,000 for misdemeanor and felony charges respectively. The bail amount for most charges will be determined by the Orange County Bail Schedule.

If you are in the following groups, you might get bail cuts:

  • Law enforcement
  • Military
  • Health care workers
  • Attorneys
  • Home-owners
  • Teachers
  • Government employees
  • Union members

Contact Address Information of Court Where You Can be Taken if you are Arrested in Rancho Santa Margarita

Here is a list of some of the jails and courts that your loved ones can be taken to if they have been arrested in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Jails:

Courts:

Find a Rancho Santa Margarita Bail Bonds Agency Near Me

Bail bonds agencies can assist you if you have been arrested. However, you will need an agency that is reputed for providing fair and affordable pricing and a strong desire to assist its clients. If you are looking for efficient Rancho Santa Margarita Bail Bonds, get in touch with Steven Mehr Bail Bonds at 800-834-8522 today. We are available 24/7.