Bail Bonds Riverside: Important Information for Anyone Arrested and Their Families
Being arrested can be the beginning of a long, confusing, and frustrating process. And unless you understand how bail bonds in Riverside work, it can be very challenging to get a loved one out of jail. Understanding the bond process can make this a much less difficult time. Below, you will learn more about bail bonds, Riverside bail bondsmen, and what you need to do to get a loved one released from jail.
Bail Bonds in Riverside: An Overview of the Process
The process of working with a bail bonds company begins at the time of the arrest in Riverside, CA (92501). The arrest is just the first of many steps. The entirety of the process from arrest to release pending trial looks like this:
- Arrest
- Booking
- Arraignment
- Bail is set
- Bail is paid or bail bond is posted
- Release from jail
- Trial
Depending on when your loved one is arrested, that process might take a day or two, or it could take a week or more. Mitigating factors include whether they were arrested on a weekend or a long holiday, the current caseload of the court, and many other factors.
For a family member interested in having their loved one released from jail, the point at which you can begin acting on that family member’s behalf is once the judge sets the total bail amount. As soon as bail is set, you can contact a company that offers bail bonds in Riverside, CA to start the release process.
What Is Bail?
Bail is the amount of money that defendants must post to be released from jail until their trial. The total bail amount will vary based on the severity of the charges they’re facing, the number of charges, the defendant’s criminal history, their perceived flight risk, and other factors.
Without the help of a bail bonds service, a defendant would have to pay the total bail amount upfront. This is unfortunately out of reach for most people. The average total bail amount for minor to moderate crimes in California is between $20,000 and $40,000. Most people don’t have that sort of money available to them, especially on short notice.
A Riverside County bail bondsman can help. In exchange for a fee (usually 10% of the total bail amount), a bail bonds office will post a bond to the court, and the defendant will be released until their court date.
What about Bail Bonds in Riverside?
When it comes to bail bonds in Riverside, what we’re really talking about is called a surety bond. A bail bonds service in Riverside will post bond on the client’s behalf and guarantee to the court that the defendant will not leave town before their court date. In exchange, the defendant must pay the company a non-refundable fee that is equal to 10% of the total bail amount. So, if the judge sets bail at $20,000, the bail bond agent will set a fee of $2,000.
Unfortunately, bail is often set much higher than this, and many families are unable to pay even the 10% fee up front. The good news is that some bail bonds offices can help in this difficult time by offering payment plans.
How Do Payment Plans Work?
Payment plans for bail work the same as any other payment plans you might be familiar with. You’ll make a larger down payment, and the bail bonds company will then post bond on behalf of your loved one. Then, you’ll make monthly payments over time until the entire amount is paid off.
A Word of Caution
While you’ll find many companies offering bail bonds in Riverside, not all bondsmen are created equal. It’s important to make sure that the bail bonds company you choose is available 24 hours a day and that they have a reputation for excellent customer service. With the right bail bonds service in Riverside, you can get your loved one out of jail, and they can get on with their life while they wait for their trial date.