Bail Bonds Los Angeles: Get Your Loved One Out of Jail
If you or a loved one are arrested in Los Angeles, you’ll want to post bail so you don’t have to sit in jail while waiting for the trial date. A lot of people don’t have the money immediately available to pay bail. Fortunately, companies offering bail bonds in Los Angeles are available to assist with this.
If you’re considering getting a bail bond, you need to know how the process works and what to expect. In this guide, we’ll cover everything from the arrest to the bail hearing, bonding out, and more.
How Bail Is Determined
When a person is arrested, they are given a bail hearing within 24-48 hours of the arrest. In some states and municipalities, bail is based on a set schedule and people charged with uncomplicated offenses may find out their bail amount without a bail hearing. Aside from the bail schedule, other factors affecting bail amount calculations include:
- The seriousness of the offense
- The criminal history of the arrestee
- Whether the person is a flight risk
- If this is a capital crime
- If they have skipped bail or had a bond revoked in the past
The good news is that in most cases, your lawyer will be able to try to get your bail amount lowered if they have enough reasonable proof to explain why it should be dropped. For first-time offenders and those who have committed minor crimes, getting your attorney to argue for a release without bail may even be an option .
Types of Bail and Bonds
Typically, judges will give people a few different options of how to get released from jail. They will either be released on their own recognizance if the crime was minor, which means no bail is required, or they will be given a bail amount that needs to be paid to secure their release. The options for paying bail include paying the cash bail or getting a surety bond from a third-party bail bond agency.
Paying a Bail: Your Options
Once a bail amount has been set, you will determine whether or not you can pay that bail. It can be a large amount, but the good news is this money will be returned to you once the legal process is complete, as long as you’ve fulfilled all of your obligations to the court.
When to Contact a Bail Bonds Service
It is time to contact a bail bonds service if you can’t afford to pay your total bail amount, but you don’t want to sit in jail until your court date. If you or a loved one is in this scenario, call a bail bond company in Los Angeles and ask if they can help you get out of jail.
Provided that you have the means to pay their non-refundable fee (usually 10% of the total bail amount), they’ll do the paperwork and get you out of jail quickly, even if it’s the middle of the night. Bail bond agents are experts at the legal process and they know all about bail and bond, so you will also have peace of mind knowing that you have an expert on your side.
Whether you’re trying to get yourself or a loved one out of jail in Southern California, choosing to work with a local bail bond office can be the perfect solution. If you can’t or don’t want to post bail alone, bail bondsmen are available to assist you in getting released from jail.
The Benefits of an Orange County Bail Bond Company
Working with a bail bonds service in Orange County will provide you with several benefits. As mentioned, you won’t have to sit in jail until your hearing, which means you won’t have to miss work or valuable family time. Plus, you will be able to get out of jail even if you can’t afford to pay the total bail amount yourself, and there are several different bond options and terms that you can choose from these days.
Hiring a professional bail bond company in Los Angeles CA ensures that the bail bond process goes smoothly and you’re not sitting in jail if you can’t afford to pay bail. Bail bond agents know the law and can give you peace of mind by helping you understand what you’re up against.
The Bail Process: Step by Step
Here’s a step-by-step, simplified look at the bail process so that you can get a better idea of what to expect if you or your family member is arrested.
Step One: Get a Bail Amount
First, you’ll get your total bail amount from the bail hearing. This usually happens within 24 to 48 hours of your arrest. The bail amount will depend on the reason for the arrest, the record of the arrestee, and other factors.
Step Two: Call a Bail Bonds Agent in Los Angeles
Once you know your total bail amount and that bail is an available option, you will want to contact a professional who offers bail bonds in Los Angeles. They will help you secure a bond to get out of jail. The bond is a promise made by them that you will appear in court on an appointed date. If you don’t appear, the bond will be revoked and you will be sought for further criminal charges.
Step Three: Post Bail or Bond
Next you make your decision – to pay the cash bail amount yourself or to hire the bail bonds agency to post a bond on your behalf. Either will satisfy the terms set by the court and you will be released until your court date.
Step Four: Get Released and Go Home
Depending on the processing, this could take a few hours or longer. Once the bail or bond has been posted, you will be processed for release and set free. Then, you can go home and be with your family while you are awaiting trial. You will have to make sure that you follow all the conditions of the bail terms.
Step Five: Show Up for Court
The biggest condition of bail or bonding out of jail is that you show up for all court appearances. No matter what the circumstances may be, you need to be in court. When you show up and fulfill your obligations, the bond will be exonerated or your cash bail payment will be returned to you. If further hearings are required, the bail or bond may be extended.
With a reputable, experienced bail bonds company in Los Angeles on your side, you’ll be able to get out of jail and get your life back on track while you’re awaiting your court date(s). Choose a skilled Los Angeles bail bond company and take some of the stress out of being arrested in the greater LA area.