Understanding the Bail Process
If you've been arrested, you'll be taken to a jail cell. At this point, you've only been charged with a crime - you haven't been found guilty. Your court case will take place in the future, likely several months later.
Bail allows you to leave jail until you're due in court. A bail amount (in dollars) will be set by the local judge, and if it's paid, the defendant is allowed to return home with a guarantee that they'll show up on the date of their trial.
What Influences The Cost of Bail?
Bail amounts can vary widely depending on the nature of the crime, with more serious crimes attracting higher bail values. In extreme cases, bail may be refused entirely - this often happens when the crime is particularly serious or if the defendant poses a flight risk.
California counties have their own standardized bail values which refer to the minimum bail amount for each crime. The judge will also consider the specifics of the crime, the background of the defendant, and their prior criminal history.
How Bail Bonds Work
California is known for having high bail values. Even people charged with relatively low-level crimes may have to pay thousands of dollars. Most people do not have tens of thousands of dollars readily accessible.
In that case, they can recruit the services of a bail bond agent. A bail bondsman will pay the full bail amount on behalf of the defendant in exchange for a fee, which is usually 10% of the overall bail value.
The Bail Bond Process
First, contact King Stahlman Bail Bonds. You can reach our San Diego office 24/7 by calling 619.232.7127. We'll take your information and discuss payment options.
Once you've signed our paperwork, we'll post your bail and get you out of jail. We have extensive experience in this field, so you can have peace of mind that your bail will be posted as quickly as possible.
How Bail Bonds Help Defendants
The number one benefit is that it gets you out of jail. A bail bond agent can ensure that your bail is posted as quickly as possible so you can return home to your family.
Additionally, bail bond agents work discreetly - they can pay your bail on your behalf, which means you can get out of jail without having to ask friends and family members for large sums of money.