The total bail amount is the amount of money posted on behalf of the offender as a guarantee that they will appear in court for their trial on theft charges. A bail can be set by the judge in court and depends on certain criteria. If you do not have enough money to pay your total bail amount, you can hire a bail bond agent who can post bond on your behalf.
The total bail amount for theft varies from $25,000 to $50,000, depending on the offender’s criminal history, the value of the stolen items, the use of a deadly weapon, the severity of the crime, etc.
To better understand the bail bond process, first, you need to grasp the several options that are available when an individual is arrested on charges of theft, burglary, robbery, or petty theft.
Setting up the Bail
Before the offender is released from jail, they need to provide their personal information, go under a general health check, have their fingerprints taken, undergo a full body search, and be scheduled for a bail hearing.
The court will usually schedule the hearing within 24-48 hours of the arrest. If you want to get released from jail before your trial, you have the option of hiring a bail bonds agent. The bail bonds agent will post the bond on your behalf for a fee that is equal to 10% of the total bail amount.
The Bail Schedule
In most states in the USA, the jails have posted the total bail amounts for common crimes, so that the defendant can better understand their total bail amount.
Total bail amounts for offenses that are classified as felonies will be higher than the total bail amount for misdemeanor charges. The more severe the crime, the higher the total bail amount.
Types of Theft
The bail amounts vary depending on the type of theft you’ve been accused of committing. Certain theft crimes can be classified as felonies, while others as misdemeanors. However, grand theft and burglary are considered higher offenses and are charged as felonies.
The common theft types are:
- Shoplifting – a misdemeanor crime that involves stealing an item whose value doesn’t exceed $950; it’s often considered a petty or petit theft.
- Burglary – a more serious type of crime that might involve the use of force, firearm, etc; It is often punishable with up to 4 years in state prison if it’s charged as 1st-degree burglary.
- Theft by embezzlement – involves stealing someone else’s property or funds without their consent or knowledge; It’s usually stealing client’s or an employer’s money.
- Grand theft – stealing property with a value surpassing $950; if the person steals farm products like citrus, vegetables, fruits, a firearm, a car, or agricultural products that have a total value of more than $950, it’s considered a grand theft.
Bail Amounts for Different Types of Theft
The bail amount for theft charges depends on the type of degree, the criminal record, and the prior convictions of the defendant. The court will look to see if the defendant has been convicted of possession of drugs, driving while intoxicated, petty theft, grand theft, got a restraining order, was involved in embezzlement, etc.
First-degree robbery is a severe offense and can be punishable by a fine of up to $100,000. There is a minimum bail of $50,000 if the person uses force or a firearm, and when the accused person has a prior felony conviction, the amount can rise to $100,000.
The total bail amount for second-degree robbery is usually within the range of $25,000 to $50,000. However, all these bail amounts are subject to increase, depending on the stolen item’s value.
If you have been offered a total bail amount, use our bail bond calculator for theft to determine the amount you will need to pay a bail bond agent to post bond on your behalf.
Contact a Bail Bond Agency
If you or someone you know has been accused of theft and you need help fighting the misdemeanor or felony charges you are facing, make sure to contact a bail bond agency and a defense attorney today.