After an arrest for a crime in California, the police are likely to place you in jail as you await trial. The good news is that you do not have to remain in jail until trial. The court will request bail money to set you free from jail as you await the court date. Courts use bail to ensure that the defendant will appear for future hearings. Bail can be in many forms, including cash bail, bail bond, or property bail. However, bail is not imposed on every criminal offense. The nature of the crime will determine whether the court requests bail, as well as the bail amount. The law allows the judge to use their discretion to lower or increase the bail amount depending on the defendant's character and the conditions of the case.

If you or your loved one has been arrested in Stanton, CA, and needs to post bail, Steven Mehr Bail Bonds can assist. Our reliable bail bond agents will respond immediately when you contact them.

The California Bail Bond System

The bail bond system in California is quite similar to that of other states, whereby the bail bond agent posts the entire bail amount in court in exchange for a bail bond premium. The initial fee could be in the form of cash, securities, assets, or other collateral. This fee comes from the defendant or a co-signer who could be their friend or family member. The bail bond company will post the bulk of the bail, meaning that they will have a strong incentive to ensure that the defendant attends all the court hearings.

If the defendant jumps bail (fails to appear in court), the bail bond company could seize the collateral that had been used to secure the initial fee. Some bail bond companies will go to the extent of hiring a person to track down the defendant and turn them over to the court.

Posting Bail

You can post cash bail by paying the entire bail amount in cash. It can be possible to post a cash bail if the judge doesn’t set a very high bail amount. The money you post as bail will be returned to you when the court proceedings are over, and you honor all the court appearances. The defendant can also post bail in cash using a money order, a certified cashier’s check, or a traveler’s cheque. The arresting agency or the court clerk is often in charge of accepting the personal checks.

The court might fail to accept a cash bail if they suspect that the money is from a suspicious source. For instance, a large sum of money could be emanating from criminal activity. In this case, the defendant will have to prove that the source of cash is legitimate. If the defendant can't prove that the money is from a legitimate source, the court may refuse to accept the cash bail.

The most common and convenient method of posting bail is through bail bonds, and this is where our Stanton bail bonds agent comes in. In most cases, the bail amount comprises several thousand dollars. Most defendants do not have this amount of money. The defendant or the co-signer pays the bail bond premium. In return, the bail bondsman will deliver the bail to court to facilitate the defendant’s release. The premium amount paid to the bail bondsman is usually non-refundable.

Very few people in California go for the option of posting a property bond. If you want to post a property bail, the property value should be twice the bail amount. For instance, if the court requires you to post a bail of $200,000, the property's value should be at least $400,000. For you to post a property bail, the property in question must have been recently approved. All liens on the property must also be disclosed. Only a qualified professional can estimate the value of the property. If you post a property bail and fail to appear in court as planned, the court could seize the property and move ahead with the foreclosure.

The Cost Of Bail

The standard cost of bail under California law is 10% of the total bail amount set by the court. The State of California has laws that regulate the charges that bail bondsmen can impose. Different bail bond companies may charge different premiums ranging between 7% and 10%. In some instances, the bail bond premium could be as low as 5%, mainly if the bail amount comprises hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some bail bond companies have flexible repayment plans for the bail bond premium. When choosing a bail bond company, you should ask all the necessary questions, including the applicable discounts and bail bond premiums. Most bail bond companies in California offer discounts for:

  • Union members
  • Military veterans, both active and retired
  • AARP members
  • Police officers
  • Attorney clients
  • Teachers

Some bail bond companies may have some additional fees on top of the 10% bail bond premium. However, these charges are usually small, and many bail bond companies will incorporate them within the 10%. However, you may also incur fees for bounty hunters, paperwork, and other expenses. For example, if the defendant jumps court, the co-signer will have to pay the bail bondsman the entire bond amount and all the fees incurred in recapturing the defendant.

It is essential to ensure that you understand all the clauses before you sign the bail contract. A co-signer should only sign the bail contract if they are sure that the defendant will not run away, leaving them with hefty amounts to settle.

We believe in being honest and transparent. Our Stanton bail bond agents will reveal all the charges to the defendant and the co-signer before signing the bail contract.

Determination Of The Bail Amount

What determines the bail amount in California?

The bail amount will vary depending on the county or the jurisdiction within which a charge is filed and the seriousness of the offense. The typical bail amounts range between $20,000 and $50,000 for less serious crimes. However, for a more severe crime, the bail amount could be as high as one million dollars or even more.

What happens if the judge sets an extremely high bail amount and the defendant feels that the bail amount is excessive and unfair?

The defendant can contain an attorney to request a bail hearing on their behalf. During the bail hearing, the attorney will negotiate with the judge to reduce the bail amount of release the defendant on their own recognizance. The judge has wide discretion to reduce, modify, eliminate, or deny the defendant bail. The judge considers several factors when setting the bail amount:

  • The seriousness of the alleged offense
  • The defendant’s criminal record
  • Whether the defendant is likely to attend future court proceedings as scheduled
  • If the defendant will be a risk to the general public after their release

When The Judge Increase The Bail Amount

Most people are aware that the judge can use their discretion to reduce the bail amount. However, most people do not realize that the judge can also use their discretion to increase the bail amount if they feel that such a move is warranted. This may happen when the defendant requests a bail hearing to negotiate to reduce the bail amount. During the hearing, the prosecutor may bring more evidence to the judge's attention. Based on the nature of the new evidence or information, the judge may decide that the defendant should pay a higher bail amount.

If you commit a serious felony offense, the judge will not reduce your bail amount to an amount lower than the minimum bail established under your jurisdiction. The judge may only lower the bail amount if they are persuaded of a case of reasonable cause or unusual circumstances. If the crime the prosecutor charges you with does not qualify to be punished by the death penalty in California, the judge can release you without bail or on your own recognizance. Before releasing a defendant on own recognizance, the judge will determine whether the defendant will be a risk to the public’s safety. The judge will also consider the likelihood that the defendant will appear in court as planned.

Whether the court demands an average or a high bail amount, our Stanton bail bond agents have your back. We provide large bail amounts without collateral. In addition, we have established a good relationship with our surety company, enabling us to offer large bail amounts within a short period.

Reduction Of The Bail Amount When The Defendant Agrees To Certain Conditions

A defendant's attorney may recommend certain bail conditions to the judge. If the defendant agrees to these conditions, the judge may reduce the defendant's bail amount or release them on their own recognizance. However, it is essential to note that the judge should not impose any bail condition that violates your legal and constitutional rights. The following are examples of the conditions that an attorney may propose:

  • The defendant may have to surrender their driver’s license
  • Travel restriction
  • The judge may require the defendant to surrender their passport
  • The defendant may have to join a treatment facility
  • The judge may require the defendant to wear a SCRAM monitoring device
  • The defendant may have to wear a GPS tracking device

When The Judge Denies You Bail

After an arrest for a crime in California, your first instinct will be to pay bail so that you can be released from jail. You've already contacted your attorney to get a discounted rate on bail bonds.

But what happens if the judge denies you bail?

According to California law, the judge can deny the defendant bail under certain circumstances. The California PC 1274 entitles a defendant to bail. However, certain crimes, usually sex crimes, may not qualify for bail. Below are events that could make a judge deny the defendant bail:

  • When the defendant commits a felony offense involving violence on another person
  • When the defendant faces charges for felony sexual assault on another person
  • When the court has sufficient evidence indicating that releasing the defendant would result in great bodily harm to other people

If all the above elements are true, there is a high likelihood that the judge may deny you bail. For example, if the defendant faces rape charges, the judge may deny bail if the prosecutor presents sufficient evidence indicating that releasing the defendant could lead to bodily harm to others.

Choosing a Bail Bond Company

With so many bail bond companies in Stanton, how can you choose a reliable company?

When selecting a Stanton bail bond agent, you should go for a responsive agent, who will respond immediately you contact them. Below are some of the factors that you should consider when choosing a bail bond company:

A Company Available 24/7

An arrest can occur when you least expect it, including at night and on holidays. You should choose a bail bond company available at any time of the day to help you get out of jail quickly and effortlessly.

Honest About The Fees

A good bail bond company will be honest about the fees. Some companies take advantage of people’s fear and anxiety, ending up charging them high fees. You wouldn't want to go to a company that would coerce you into signing a bad deal when seeking release from prison. Our Stanton bail bonds agents are straightforward about the fees from the start. We will not surprise you with unexpected charges.

Licensed And Reputable

When trying to get out of jail, the last thing you would want is a cheap and unprofessional service. Therefore, it's always advisable to work with a bail bond company with a solid reputation and a long track record. Even if you may have to pay a little higher for a reputable bail bond company, you will be assured of a trustworthy service.

Good Customer Service

You should expect the same level of courtesy and professionalism from a bail bond company that you would expect from any other business. Using a bail bond company, especially for the first time, can be daunting, given that so much information is involved. However, our Stanton bail bond agents are patient and genuinely care for the needs of our customers. They will guide you and answer all your questions through the entire bail bond process.

Stanton Court and Jail Information

Jail Information

Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department

Location: Stanton, California

Address: 11100 Cedar, St, Stanton, CA90680, United States

Phone: +1 714 -647-7000

Court Information

West Justice Center

Address: 8141 13th Street, Westminster, CA 92683, United States

Phone: +1 657-622-8459

Find a Stanton Bail Bonds Agent Near Me

If you or your loved one is in custody and you need reliable bail bond services in Stanton, you can count on Steven Mehr Bail Bonds. All our bail bond agents are professional. They will respond immediately you contact them. Call us at 800-834-8522 and speak to one of our bail bond agents.