After an arrest for committing a crime in California, you will be booked and locked up in jail. Normally, you may have to remain in jail while you wait for court proceedings and trial to determine the outcome of your case. In California, you do not need to spend time in jail when your case is pending, and you can post bail and go home to your family as you wait for trial.
A judge sets bail a few hours after your arrest and booking, and you can pay it in cash, property, or by using bail bonds. Bail bonds companies will post bail for your loved one when you do not have enough money to pay cash bail. If your loved one is stuck in jail and you need bail bonds, contact us, the 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds. Our Laguna Beach Bail Bonds Agents understand the urgency of securing your loved one’s release and will provide the finances you need to post bail.
Overview of Bail Bonds in Laguna Beach, California
A bail is a set amount of money that acts as insurance between a defendant and the court. The court releases the defendant with a pending criminal case, and the money paid acts as an assurance of the defendant’s return to court for trial and other court proceedings. Immediately after an arrest, you will be booked into a jail cell. At your first appearance in court, the judge will set your bail. Before you can secure a release from jail, you must post the total bail amount with the court.
Not all criminal defendants can secure a release through bail. In some cases, the court may deny you bail, and you will have to remain in jail awaiting your trial. However, you may only be denied bail if you face charges that attract capital punishment after a conviction.
Bail amounts vary from one defendant to another, and the court uses the bail schedules to set your bail. The bail schedule is a list that indicates the amount of bail required for each crime. On the bail schedules, the bail needed for serious felonies is often higher than that of misdemeanors. However, you will not necessarily pay the exact amount indicated on the bail schedules. A judge could increase or reduce your bail depending on the specific factors of your case. Some of the factors that could impact your bail include:
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Flight risk. When the court releases you on bail, the judge expects you to show up for trial as scheduled. Since the bail money acts as a means to discourage you from fleeing, your bail may be increased if you have a high flight risk.
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The severity of your crimes. Individuals facing serious charges are more likely to skip bail. This is because of the serious consequences they risk facing after a conviction for their crimes. Therefore, the judge may be compelled to set a high bail for individuals facing serious charges.
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Income and assets. The court assumes that posting bail will deter you from fleeing. This is because failure to appear for a court proceeding will result in bail forfeiture. However, an individual with a high income and many assets may not be reluctant to leave behind a few thousand dollars paid as their bond. Before setting your bail, the court could carry out some financial investigations to determine your financial status. The judge is likely to increase the bail amount for a defendant with high income and assets.
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Community ties. Having strong community ties can help you convince the court to reduce your bail. If you have a job or family in the area, you may be considered less flight risk.
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Criminal History. When setting your bail in California, the judge will consider your criminal history. If you have skipped bail or violated a court order in the past, the court may increase your bail amount.
Sometimes, you may be lucky to secure your release or that of your loved one without posting bail. This will be the case when the court grants you a own recognizance release. In this case, you will sign an agreement promising to return to court for your trial. However, it is crucial to understand that you must follow all the terms and conditions even when the court releases you on own recognizance.
Where to Post Bail Bonds in Laguna Beach:
Laguna Beach Police Department Jail
505 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
If you are not fortunate enough to be released on your own recognizance, you can post your bail through the following means:
Cash Bail
If you have the required financial capacity, you can pay your bail in cash. Before a defendant is released from jail on cash bail, you must deposit the full bail amount with the arresting agency. Depending on the specific policies of the court, you can pay the bail in cash, personal check, money order, or cashier’s check. Although cash bail requires all the money upfront, it is not complicated. If you attend all your proceedings and the case ends, the court will refund your money. However, skipping bail would result in bail forfeiture.
The downside of paying your bail in cash is that it can result in suspicions. If the prosecutor or judge suspects that you criminally obtained the bail money. You can be subjected to financial investigations, which may delay the bail process. In this case, you will have the burden to prove that you obtained the funds legally.
Property Bond
If you are incapable of paying cash bail, California courts allow you to post a property bond. Posting a property bond means that you must pledge the property’s real value to guarantee the defendant’s return to court. If you post a property bond for your loved one, you must ensure that they obey all court orders and attend trial failure to which you can lose your property.
The court holds a hearing for a property bond where you must present the original property deed. Also, all the people whose names are on the property deed must be present for the hearing. If you purchased the property in the last twelve months, you must present the tax returns statement. This will be used to ascertain the value of the property.
Bail Bonds
Often, when you do not have money or property to put up as bail, bail bonds may be the only option left for you. If you want to post a bail bond for your loved one, you must contact a bail bond company as soon as you learn of their arrest. The bail bond company sends a bail bond agent to provide the financing to post the bail and guide you through the bail process. A Laguna Beach bail bonds agent will charge you a 10% premium for their services. This means that you will only shoulder financial responsibility for 10% of your loved one's bail, which is easy to raise.
When you contact the bail bond company, you should have these details about the defendant:
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The defendant's official Names.
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The jail and county where they are held.
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The charges the defendant is facing.
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The amount of bail needed to secure their release from jail.
After providing the above information, the bail bond agent will assess your ability to pay the premium and do all the necessary paperwork. When you seek bail bonds for a loved one or friend, you will be considered a cosigner for the bail bond.
A bail bond cosigner is responsible for the defendant’s appearance for trial. Also, you will be financially responsible for the bail should the defendant flee or skip bail. Therefore, before you cosign a bail bond for someone, you must be sure that they will obey all the court orders.
The services of a Laguna Beach bail bonds agent do not end after they post your bail. The agent will be responsible for the defendant's conduct and appearance for court proceedings. Also, the bail bond agent will guide your loved ones through the process and help them understand each stage.
When your loved one attends all court hearings, and their case concludes, the court will release the bail money to the bail bond agency. The bail bond company will then release the property you used as collateral for the bail bond. However, it is crucial to understand that collateral is non-refundable.
On the other hand, the court will forfeit the bail when a defendant violates bail conditions or fails to attend the hearing. When a bail bond company loses the money they used to pay for your loved one's bail through forfeiture, they will seize the collateral.
What is Bail Collateral?
Bail collateral is offered in addition to bail money to secure the release of a defendant held in jail. Collateral can be in the form of property, a vehicle, or valuable jewelry. However, the court specifies the value of the property that can be used as collateral for bail. If you offer a vehicle or property as collateral, you must place the property deed or pink slip in the trust of the court or bail bond agent.
If you use a smaller item like jewelry, the bail agent or court will take possession of the actual item until your case is resolved. Before you use the property or another valuable item for collateral, you must prove its ownership.
When the case is completed, the court or bail bond agent will return the collateral. The outcome of your criminal case will not affect the bail or collateral put up for the release. If you use collateral for bail bonds, the bail bond company will not return the collateral until you have paid the full premium. The collateral you use for bail bonds will be returned within five days of paying all your financial obligations. When you contact a bail bond agent, you should be sure to discuss collateral issues before you hire their services.
Benefits of Hiring a Laguna Beach Bail Bondsman
If you or a loved one has been arrested, they do not have to remain in jail due to a lack of finances to post cash bail. A bail bonds company can provide the financial assistance that you need to post your bail. Although cash bail is the easiest way to post bail and secure a release, many defendants cannot raise the full bail amount. The following are some benefits you accrue from using a bail bond to secure a release from jail:
Quicker Release of your loved one
In some cases, you may not need a monetary commitment to secure a release from jail. This is the case for individuals who qualify for a own recognizance release. Unfortunately, your loved one can only qualify for a own recognizance release if they meet the following criteria:
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They have a good criminal record.
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The defendant has a history of obeying court orders and showing up for the hearings.
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The defendant is facing charges for a non-violent crime.
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They have community ties such as a job or family, which could discourage them from fleeing.
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The defendant is not a threat to the safety of other members of the community.
If your loved one does not qualify for a own recognizance release, you must pay their bail to have them released from jail. Since not many individuals have the kind of money needed to post bail, your loved one may have to spend more time in jail as you try to come up with the bail money. When you seek the services of a bail bond company, you can secure the bail quicker and avoid a prolonged stay in jail.
You Can Keep your Financial Matters Confidential
One of the setbacks you could face when posting cash bail is proving the source of the money. Whether or not you are charged with a financial crime, posting a high bail amount in cash could open the doors for financial scrutiny. If the court is not convinced that you obtained the money illegally, your loved one's release could be delayed. Also, the financial investigations will invade your financial privacy.
You can avoid the issues of financial scrutiny by hiring bail bond services. The bail bond agent will post the full bail amount, and your financial matters will remain private.
Avoid Liquidation of Assets
If you have enough money or property to use as bail, it would be an easier choice. However, you can only recover the property or money if your loved one adheres to all bail conditions and attends court proceedings. If the defendant skips bail, you risk losing the property. If you desperately want to pay the bail in cash, you could be tempted to liquidate your assets, and you end up selling them lower than their actual value. You can avoid the risk of losing your assets by seeking the help of a bail bond company.
Bail Bonds Agents Have Extensive Knowledge and Experience
In addition to providing financial assistance, a bail bonds agent will guide you throughout the bail process. With their knowledge and connections in local jails and courts, they can make the bail process less stressful for you and your loved one.
Bail Bonds Agents are Responsible
If you post bail for a loved one, you have to take the responsibility of ensuring their return for trial and that they will follow all the court orders. If a defendant fails to show up as scheduled, the court will forfeit the bail, and you will lose your money or assets. When you work with a bail bond agent, they should take the risk and responsibility of the defendant's conduct while out on bail.
Bail bond companies have bounty hunters who can find a defendant who attempts to flee and bring them back to court, thus avoiding bail forfeiture. Also, the bail bondsman can help the defendant understand the different conditions and requirements of the court to avoid a violation.
The following are some of the jails serving Laguna Beach, CA:
Laguna Beach Police Department
James A, Musick Facility
Courts around Laguna Beach, CA, include:
Superior Court Service Center
Harbor Justice Center Newport Beach
NCBJ
Find a Laguna Beach Bail Bonds Agent Near Me
Learning that your loved one or friend has been arrested can be a difficult thing to accept. The situation will be scarier if you are the person sitting behind bars. Jail is not a pleasant place to be in, and your first thought will be to secure a release as soon as possible. Before you are released with a pending criminal case in California, you must make a monetary commitment which acts as your bail.
Bail acts as a guarantee that you will appear in court when required. Bail amounts vary from one case to another, and the amount of money required is often too high for many people to afford. Fortunately, you can explore other options like seeking bail bonds services. By contacting a bail bond company, you can receive the assistance you need to post bail. At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, we will pay your bail and provide the guidance you need throughout the process. Contact our Laguna Beach Bail Bonds Agents today at 800-930-8999 to discuss your situation.