If you are arrested for any offense in Ventura County, you can pay bail to secure your release from jail as you await trial. Bail can be in the form of cash, property, or a bond. The primary purpose of bail is to ensure you show up for your court hearings even after being freed from jail. If you fail to appear, the courts seize the bail (bail forfeiture) and issue a warrant of your arrest. A bail bond will come in handy if you don’t have cash or property to use as surety. We invite you to reach out to the 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds. Our licensed agents can post your bail on your behalf and ensure you don't spend more time in jail than necessary.
Forget what you have seen in the movies—the main character receives a call from a friend at the heart of the night, offers to bail them out, and gives them a ride home. It’s often not that easy. Most people can’t raise cash bails and using property as surety is often a risky affair. In the real world, your best bet of quickly and conveniently securing your freedom is to seek the services of a bail bondsman.
Bail and Bail Bonds in Ventura County Explained
If you want to be released from jail as you await trial for your case, you can do so by paying bail. If you cannot raise the total amount in cash or use property as surety, another option you can explore is posting a bail bond.
Bail bond companies can help you raise the bail amount in mere minutes. You simply need to settle a nonrefundable premium that is often set at 10% of the total bail amount.
Depending on the bail amount set by the court, the bail bond company may use various means to ensure you don’t fail to show up for hearings. This may include using monitoring devices or requesting collateral in the form of land, a car, a bank account, or jewelry, just to mention a few.
Compared to cash bail, bail bonds tend to be more expensive. You can settle a cash bail directly with the court and have it refunded in full (or minus the processing fee). All you have to do to secure the refund is to show up in court without fail. If you opt for a bail bond, you have to pay the 10% fee, irrespective of whether you are convicted or not.
Reliable bail bonds agents have one goal in mind— to reunite families by securing the release of defendants. The 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds offers 24/7/365 services to make it convenient for you to bail out your loved one.
Bail vs. Bond
If you are like most people, you probably use the terms “bail” and “bond” interchangeably. While both terms are used when discussing matters of jail release, they don’t refer to the same thing. While bail is the cash a defendant pays to secure his/her release from jail, a bond is posted by a bail bondsman on behalf of a defendant.
In Ventura County, bail is not part of the punishment for committing a particular crime or offense. It simply offers a way of securing your freedom from jail with the surety that you will return to court for your hearings. That said, bail is similar to collateral in the sense that it ensures you don’t flee and dodge your case proceedings and consequences.
It’s this simple— you must appear for your hearings or lose your bail money. When using bonds, the company you contract may be forced to use bounty hunters or seize property set as collateral if you violate the conditions of your release.
Conditions of Release in Ventura County
The judge has the power to dictate the conditions of your release from jail. Often, a defendant is simply required to raise the bail money. The courts may also order pretrial supervision in lieu of bail or in addition to settling the set bail amount. Other conditions of release may include:
- Electronic monitoring (the use of monitoring anklets or bracelets)
- Frequent check-ins with your probation officer
- Travel restrictions
- Mandatory enrollment into counseling or treatment programs
Depending on the specifics of your case, a judge may also impose other conditions of release, such as stay-away orders (to protect witnesses or victims). A judge may also strip you of your right to own a gun or order your passport surrender. You may also be released on bail under the condition that you must not break any laws.
Generally, you must adhere to all the conditions of your release. Violating any set conditions could lead to a re-arrest, bail forfeiture, or being detained until your trial.
Who Sets Bail in Ventura County?
In Ventura County, a magistrate or judge is responsible for setting the bail amount during the arraignment or bail hearing. In the past, the courts used bail schedules that listed the fixed bail amounts for common charges within the jurisdiction. For example, the bail schedule would list a $1,000 bail amount for trespass charges and $20,000 bail for serious felony charges like sexual battery.
Sometimes, it is possible to post bail at any police station within Ventura County. While this may help you secure immediate release after an arrest, there is a catch— the police will use the standard bail schedule. This means you cannot argue for a reduced bail amount than what is listed on the schedule.
How much bail is set for a particular crime is entirely at the discretion of the judge. Fortunately, the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits excessive bail. This ensures that a high bail amount cannot be set to punish a defendant before he/she is convicted.
Again, it is entirely up to a judge to decide on the appropriate bail for a specific crime. The judge also has the power to deny bail, raise the amount, lower it or even waive it altogether. In some instances, the bail could be set at a ridiculously high amount to ensure a defendant remains in jail until trial. According to the U.S. Supreme Court, pretrial detention is not unconstitutional, especially if a defendant is considered dangerous and a flight risk.
Factors That Influence the Bail Amount in Ventura County
Even though judges in Ventura County can use standard bail schedules, they often rely on risk-based assessments when setting bail. For instance, a defendant is likely to face a higher bail amount if he/she is likely not to return to court if released before trial or poses a danger to victims, witnesses, or the community.
During risk-based assessments, judges also consider the seriousness of a crime and various other factors such as missed court dates in the past. Let’s have a look at common factors that may influence the decision of the court when setting bail:
Bail Schedules
Ventura County has a standard bail schedule that allows defendants to post bail from local police stations before the arraignment or bail hearing. The schedule lists bail amounts depending on the charges a defendant faces.
If you are not sure in which local police station your loved one is held, we can lend a hand with the search. In Ventura County, the Sheriff's Stations situated across the county provide law enforcement. Sheriff Departments have a close relationship with state patrol and city police stations, making it easy for skilled bail bonds agents to do detailed inmate searches.
Criminal Record
The courts will also consider your criminal history before setting bail. If you have a long record, you will likely face a higher bail amount than a first-time offender. The severity of past crimes will also be taken into account when making the final decision.
Irrespective of the current charges you are facing, you are likely to be denied bail if you have outstanding warrants. Keeping you in custody allows the justice system to impose past charges and protect the welfare of the general public.
Community Ties
Defendants with property or even family members within Ventura County are perceived to pose a lesser flight risk. If you have a business within the county or your kids go to local schools, the judge is likely to be lenient when setting the bail amount.
Likelihood of Showing Up For Court Hearings
Apart from your criminal history, the judge will also consider your previous history of attending court hearings. A record of missing court dates is bound to attract higher bail and stricter conditions of release. It is also likely for the court to deny you bail altogether.
Flight Risk
When determining bail, one of the most significant factors the courts will consider is your flight risk. The flight risk is assessed by evaluating a range of factors, including employment, citizenship, ties to the community, current living arrangements, past court attendance, and financial capacity, among other factors.
For instance, the courts may consider you to have a greater flight risk if you are not a U.S. citizen, have no ties to the community, and have an unsteady job and no family or relatives in the County. If this is your situation, you may be slapped with a high bail amount, irrespective of your criminal history.
In most cases, arrests happen suddenly, and an accused is forced to put his/her life on hold for weeks or months until their case is determined. Fortunately, the laws dictate that you are innocent until proven guilty. As such, posting bail allows you to secure your release under the condition that you show up for court dates until you are convicted or acquitted.
If you cannot raise the bail money, we are here to help. At the 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, we offer quick and discreet services. You can contact us for bail online or by phone irrespective of the time of day or night.
Everything You Need To Know About Bail Bond Financing in Ventura County
If you cannot come up with your full bail amount, a bail bond agent can post the money for you. In return, you must pay a premium set at as little as 10% of your total bail amount. If this fraction of your bail is still too high for you to make a one-time payment, the bail bondsman will create a payment plan that works for you.
Depending on the company you choose, you could be required to make an upfront payment of as little as 1% of your bail. This gives you a more accessible ticket out of jail, and then you can work on raising the rest of the money.
Another option is to post collateral instead of money. Some of the items commonly used as collateral include:
- Vehicles
- Boats
- Real Estate
- Jewelry
- Investments
- Savings
Posting collateral is not always necessary, although it could make it easier to secure the much-needed financing.
Other financing options accepted by well-established bail bonds agents include:
Stocks and Bonds
If you don’t have the money upfront, you could choose to pledge your stocks and bonds. They can serve as a guarantee that you can raise the required funds and show up for your hearings to avoid bail forfeiture.
Promissory Note
In certain situations, the bail bondsman may accept a promissory note. Such an arrangement may afford you an easy payment plan, perhaps one that involves making manageable monthly installments.
Government Pay Services (GPS)
Government pay services offer one of the easiest ways to pay the bail bondsman. You simply need to go online, fill out the necessary forms and submit them. After this, you can make a payment(s) using your credit card.
Payday Loans
Another helpful option is to sign a contract that allows a specific percentage of the money to be slashed from your account each payday. For most people, especially those that have stable employment, this is the best option.
Life Insurance Policies
Again, you can pledge your life insurance policy against a trust account. Depending on the value of your policy, you could qualify for as much as $50,000 to settle your bail.
If you use any of the above financing options, you can regain your asset once your case is over and all the fees are settled. Failure to appear in court or adhere to your terms of release will require you to pay 100% of the bail bond value to enable your agent to pay the court.
About Bail Bonds Payment Plans In Ventura County
The best bail bond companies offer flexible financing options and repayment plans. At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, we can help you figure out a suitable payment plan, irrespective of whether you have collateral or not.
Here are some of the general terms of payment you should know about:
The Down Payment
Your bail bonds agent will require you to settle a 10% premium fee upfront. However, all is not lost if this amount is not within your immediate financial reach. You can enter a payment plan under the agreement that you only pay a small down payment and then pay the rest of the money in monthly installments. If you have valuable assets, you could use them as collateral to make up for the down payment value.
Pay In Installments
As aforementioned, reliable bail bonds agents are in the business of reuniting accused persons with their loved ones, at least until their case is heard. If you cannot afford to raise the full upfront fee, you may opt to go for a payment plan that allows you to make small installments.
Interest Rates
It is crucial to pay your installments on time. In this case, the bail bond arrears is treated like any other type of loan. This means that an interest rate may apply in case of missed or delayed payments.
Co-Signer
Times are hard, and even with a range of financing options and flexible payment plans, you may still not qualify for a bail bond on your own. You could request a relative or friend to sign against your agreement with a bail bondsman. As long as they are eligible and can guarantee your bail, the agent will secure your release by settling bail on your behalf.
We only require you to pay a 10% premium on bail for us to secure your release. If raising this fee is too expensive for you, don’t sweat it! Call us or contact us online to enjoy a payment plan that works best for your situation. We will let you know about the options you have.
Ventura County Inmate Search
When one is arrested in Ventura County, they will likely be held at the Ventura County pre-trial detention center. It has the capacity of holding about 890 inmates, and it houses newly arrested inmates pending:
- Posting of bail
- Release on their own recognizance
- Appearing in court for arraignment or trial
Here are a few crucial addresses to note:
Pre-Trial Detention Center
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
(805) 654-5087 – The Inmate Chaplain
(805)654-3335 – For Visiting Information
Business hours 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday — Friday, (closed during court holidays)
Once the trial is over, an inmate can be transferred to either East County Jail or the Todd Road Jail. Their addresses are as follows:
East County Jail
2101 East Olsen Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
(805) 494-8242 – The Reception
Todd Road Jail Facility
600 South Todd Road
Santa Paula, CA 93060
(805) 933-8501 – For Visiting Information
Ventura Sheriff & Police Department Information
The Sheriff’s Department facility houses inmates charged for “lesser crimes”. These are mainly non-violent crimes that attract a sentence of one year jail time or less. This facility takes inmates from the surrounding police departments.
Ventura Sheriff Department
800 South Victoria Ave
Ventura, Ca 93009
(805) 654-2311
Ventura Police Department
1425 Dowell Dr
Ventura, CA 93303
(805) 650-8016
Simi Valley Police Department
3901 Alamo St
Simi Valley, CA 93063
(805) 583-6950
East Valley Station
2101 E Olsen Rd
Thousand Oaks, Ca 91360
(805) 494-8265
Port Hueneme Police Department
250 N Ventura Rd
Port Hueneme, Ca 93041
(805) 986-6530
Oxnard Police Department
251 South "C" St
Oxnard, Ca 93030
(805) 486-1663
Santa Paula Police Department
214 S 10th St
Santa Paula, Ca 93060
(805) 525-4474
Superior Court Information Ventura County
The superior courthouse addresses and contact details are as follows:
Ventura Hall of Justice
800 S. Victoria Ventura, Ca. 93009
(805) 654-2611—For general information
East Courthouse
3855 F Alamo Street Simi Valley, CA, 93063
(805) 582-8086 — Civil cases
(805) 582-8080 — Traffic/ criminal cases
(805) 582-8080 — Night Court
We can help you find where your loved one is jailed using our advanced Ventura County inmate search. We serve all major cities in the county, including Bell Canyon, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Lake Sherwood, Oxnard, Santa Susana, La Conchita, Port Hueneme, Ajai, Fillmore, Newbury Park, Seacliff, Somis, Moorpark, Camarillo, and Santa Paula. Our services are fast, confidential, and thoughtful.
Find 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds Near Me
Every so often, bad things happen to good people. If you find yourself in a troubling situation and need to get out of jail, turn to the 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds. We have a licensed team of compassionate, non-judgmental, and friendly agents who can work with you to ensure a quick and convenient release from jail. We are dedicated to providing top-notch bail bonds services in Ventura County and always have an agent on standby 24/7/365. Call us now at 800-930-8999.