After allegedly violating a law, you might be sent to jail, and the court will require that you post bail to get released. Sometimes the amount might be too high for you to afford. In that case, you should contact a skilled Seal Beach bail bonds agent. After paying your premium and signing your contract, the agent will post your bail bonds timely. At Steven Mehr Bail Bonds, we understand that the bail process can be complicated and confusing. Therefore, we can compassionately and confidently guide you and your family through the bonding process.
How Bail Bonds Work
After your arrest, you become a defendant in a process that involves trial and spending time in custody. Bail is the amount you pay to the court to be released from jail as you await your trial date. It is a method the court uses to ensure you appear in court for your proceedings.
Most California counties have amounts and rules (bail schedule) for different crimes. After a person is arrested, a bondsman or their loved one can analyze the bail schedule to determine the required amount.
Please note the judge has the discretion to lower or increase your bail amount depending on factors like:
- The severity of the alleged offense — Generally, the more severe the alleged crime, the higher the bail amount set.
- Outstanding warrants/previous criminal records — An individual with a criminal history will pay huge bail amounts. Additionally, the judge might deny bail to a person with an outstanding warrant in any jurisdiction as a way to keep the person detained.
- Threat to the public — The court will review the seriousness and nature of the danger to the community and self when setting the bail amount.
- Community ties — People who have invested in the community are less likely to flee, commit additional crimes, or endanger others. Maintaining employment and strong community or family ties work in favor of lenient bail requirements.
- Flight risk — People who the court thinks can flee the jurisdiction before their case closes, particularly those arrested while on the run from the police, will pay substantial bail amounts or be denied bail altogether.
How to Post Your Bail in Seal Beach
You may post your bail either in cash, use collateral, or through a skilled bond dealer.
Cash Bail
In this case, you paid the entire bail amount. You can also pay using a cashier's check, traveler's check, or money order. Sometimes the arresting authority or court clerk might accept a personal check.
The court might fail to accept your bail, particularly if the money is suspected of having originated from an illegal business or it is a lot of money. Should this happen, you should prove your funds' origin is legitimate. As a result, it would be best to secure the services of a profound Seal Beach bail bonds agent.
Using Bail Bonds
If you cannot afford your full bail amount, you can use a bail bond agent. With bail bonds, you should pay your provider a non-refundable premium (usually ten percent of your bail amount). After you pay that amount, the agency will work to secure your release.
You might also be required to use collateral when obtaining your bond, especially if the bail amount is massive. Typically, it is real property. Most personal properties do not have significant value and can disappear. If you fail to appear in court and the court forfeits the bail, your bondsman will sell the collateral used.
To get a friend or relative released from police custody, it's in their best interest that you speak with a Seal Beach bail bonds agent once you learn of their arrest. There are essential pieces of information you need when contacting the agency. It will help the agent complete the required steps and paperwork to secure your relative’s timely release. These details include:
- The accused full name
- Booking number
- Name of the jurisdiction
- The alleged crime
- The entire bail amount
Steps to Bail a Loved One Out of Detention
Following the following steps makes bailing a person out of jail simple. They include:
- First, you should learn whether your loved one was detained following their arrest. To find out if they were detained, check for that information on the jurisdiction's official website. If your loved one is in custody, there are two (2) possibilities. Either they have to wait until their arraignment hearing (it can take a maximum of 48 hours), or the alleged crime has a bail schedule.
- Next, know the booking status. It means the arrestee has already been fingerprinted and has the photographs taken.
- It would help if you also determined whether posting bail is necessary. Sometimes a suspect can be released on their own recognizance. O.R. only needs the accused to sign an agreement agreeing to attend all their court hearings.
- Once the bail amount is set, you should figure how to pay it. You can use any of the methods discussed above.
- Finally, you should ensure the defendant complies with their bail conditions, including appearing in court when required. If not, the court will forfeiture the money posted and arrest the defendant.
The Relationship Between Your Criminal Trial and Bail
If it is the first time you face a criminal charge, you might be wondering how bail affects the criminal trial. Would you mind reading the section below to learn more?
Bail Reduces the Probabilities of Pleading Guilty in Your Trial
Most people who the judge denied bail or can't raise the required bail amount spend weeks, months, or even years in jail while they have not been proven guilty. The requirement to close the criminal case or the hesitation of the detention might push a defendant to plead guilty even if they are innocent of lessening the stay in custody.
If you obtain your release, you'll not be in a hurry to close your case. You will also be patient with the legal process even if your case delays, reducing the likelihood of pleading guilty.
Securing Bail Increases Your Case Preparedness
Being released before your case closes increases the ability to work on your defense adequately. Since you'll be working, you can afford to hire a skilled defense attorney.
Moreover, you can spend more time with your lawyer and review the case circumstances. You can also visit the crime scene with professionals to identify gaps in the prosecutor's case, increasing the likelihood of receiving favorable case results.
A Release on Bail Can Reduce the Odds of a Harsh Sentence or Conviction
If the judge denies you bail in your arraignment, you are more likely to be convicted. During your bail hearing, the prosecution will tell the court why the court should deny you bail. If their evidence is robust, the court will deny you bail.
Additionally, most defendants denied bail face severe penalties due to the substantial evidence presented by the prosecutor and the severity of the underlying crime. Being denied or granted bail could influence the jurors, prosecutor, and judge's decision regarding your liability and guilt.
Finally, when you attend your court hearing in jail shackles and uniform, this might affect the court decision. The possibility of receiving strict penalties is higher than those of an individual who attends well-groomed and in the company of their loved ones.
Posting Bail Increases the Likelihood of Securing a Favorable Plea Bargain
If released on bail, you will be enjoying the skilled legal services of an attorney and the freedom, and the prosecution has less leverage on you. You have more influence and higher bargaining power than a person in police custody. That means the prosecutor can't force you into taking an unsatisfactory plea bargain. The prosecutor fears losing the criminal case and will provide the best deal to acquire a conviction.
What Happens to Your Seal Beach Bail Bonds Once Your Criminal Case is Closed
Bail isn't a punishment or penalty for the crime you committed. When a defendant posts bail, they are entitled to receive their money back provided they didn't break their bail terms. The trial outcome doesn't affect the bail in any manner. You will face either a refund or bail amount forfeiture once your trial is completed.
Bail Forfeiture
From time to time, an arrestee may fail to adhere to their bail conditions or skip bail after their release. When this occurs, the entire bail amount is forfeited. If you used an asset to secure your release, the judge will order its repossession or foreclosure and sell it to recover your bail money.
Nevertheless, all is not lost if you failed to attend your court proceedings. The court can vacate the forfeiture order and exonerate your bond if you appear within six months of your forfeiture date with a reasonable excuse. Some of the reasons you can use include:
- A disease proved with a medical statement or report
- You sustained injuries
- You were disabled
- You suffered from mental illness
- You were detained in another jurisdiction
Refund of Your Bail
Once the case is closed, the bail amount is refunded to the person who posted it. How it is repaid depends on the form of bail used and the jurisdiction.
If you used cash, the court would refund the money after a couple of weeks. If you used an asset to post your bail, the court will issue a lien on the asset, and releasing the property might take time.
If the trial happened in a federal court, the defendant should bring a petition seeking a refund.
Please note that the court will keep some money from your entire bail amount as an administrative fee.
Getting your Bail Amount from Your Seal Beach Bail Bond Agency
Before posting your bail, the bail bond agent will require you to give collateral or sign a contract. When you comply with your bail terms, the agency will release the lien out of your security agreement or collateral at your trial's end. However, the company will keep the premium you paid.
Bail Forfeiture and Bounty Hunters
When you retain a bondsman's services and skip bail, the agent has the right to locate, arrest, and return you to jail. The judge will allow the bail bond agent to find you.
To locate you, the provider may use bounty hunters. While a bounty hunter is not a government employee, they can arrest and present you to court. Recall, when you sign the agreement, you allow your bondsman to enter your workplace or home, take legal action against you, or arrest you.
If they cannot find you within that time frame, the agency will require that the company pays your entire bail amount. The company can auction your collateral to recover the funds it paid to the court and the bounty hunter.
No Collateral Bail Bond
Not every individual has the financial ability to pay bail for themself or their loved ones after receiving the news of the arrest. Additionally, some of these persons might not have collateral to pledge for their bail bond. If you're among these persons, you can consider seeking no collateral bail bonds.
Below are factors that most seasoned bail bond agents consider before offering these bail bonds:
- The defendant's overall moral character — If you are of good conduct and have strong ties in your community, you are more likely to qualify for no collateral bail bonds.
- Your criminal record — Before issuing the bonds, your bondsman will look into your criminal record. They will also consider the severity of the alleged charge.
- The set bail bonds amount — The lower the required amount, the greater the chance of getting no collateral bonds. However, acquiring your huge Seal Beach bail bonds isn't a problem when it comes to Steven Mehr Bail Bonds. Using GPS ankle monitoring technology, we can post your bail provided you comply with your release conditions. For more information on bail bonds without collateral, contact your bondsman to discuss your case and see how they can assist you.
- The credit score — Since the bail bonding agency operates as a lender, they will consider your credit score before providing these bail bonds. The higher your credit score is, the higher the possibility of being approved for the bonds.
Seal Beach Jail and Court Information
Seal Beach Police Department
Phone: (562) 799-4100
The Superior Court of California (Orange County)
Find a Seasoned Bail Bonds Agency Near Me
The need for Seal Beach bail bonds is mainly felt when an individual is arrested and needs to be released. Nonetheless, you might not have the required bail amount to bail yourself out since that amount can be a couple of thousand or even more. That is why contacting a bail bond agency is vital. The bondsman will post the bail and secure your release in exchange for a non-refundable portion of the total bail amount. For many years Steven Mehr Bail Bonds has explored the needs of the California judicial system, defendants, and the public and can offer comprehensive and timely services to our clients. We can assist whether you require drunk driving bonds, assault bonds, domestic violence bonds, or any criminal-related bonds. For more information, contact us today at 800-834-8522.
