How Our Bail Process Works
Bail is a way for someone accused of a crime to be released from jail if they give money as a guarantee that they will go to court. This is called "posting bail." It can take a long time for a trial to happen, and bail lets the accused person wait for their trial at home, instead of in jail.
There are two ways to post bail:
1. Someone Can Give All the Money Needed to the Jail
- This amount is the same as the bail amount set by the court.
- For example, if the bail is set at $5,000, then $5,000 cash needs to be given to the jail.
- If the accused person goes to court like they are supposed to, the money will be returned to the person who gave it.
2. If the Accused Person or Their Family or Friends Don't Have All the Money, They Can Call a Licensed Bail Agent to Help
- To get a bail bond, two things are needed: Premium and Collateral.
- Premium is 10% of the bail amount. For example, if the bail is $5,000, the premium would be $500.
- The premium is earned by the Bail Agent once the accused person is released from jail, and it can't be refunded.
Industry Standard Premium Rates
The bail set by a judge is dependent upon a multitude of factors, including the defendant's charge, previous criminal history, and the likelihood of flight. The bail bond fee, which is set by the State of California, is equal to 10% of the bail amount.
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