BY | June 6, 2023

The short answer is: yes, you can bail yourself out of jail in California under some conditions. Keep reading to learn how. 

Getting arrested and finding yourself in jail can be a distressing experience. Law enforcement officials may confiscate your phone or make it challenging to contact loved ones for help. 

It can also be the start of a long and expensive journey that includes bail, court fees, attorney costs, and jail time. 

Fortunately, California allows defendants to bail themselves out of jail. This post explains what bail is, how it works, and the help you can get to reclaim your freedom. 

What Is Bail? 

Bail is a sum paid to law enforcement as surety to secure your release from jail. Officials hold onto the money until you meet your court obligations (such as turning up to your trial date). Once you do, they return the money to you. 

A Judge or a magistrate sets bail based on various factors such as the nature and seriousness of the offence, your criminal history, your ties to the community, and the risk of flight or danger to the public. 

You can pay bail money yourself or ask friends, family, or a bail bondsman to do it on your behalf. If you ask a third party to pay bail, the courts will repay the money if you attend your hearings. 

How Much Bail Do You Need To Pay?

Law enforcement determines how much bail you need to pay. The following criteria apply:-

The Bail Schedule

In California, judges begin setting bail amounts by consulting bail schedules. These codes determine a bail sum for specific charges.

In general, bail is higher for more severe offences. However, judges must abide by the law. They cannot demand arbitrarily set high bail amounts.

For example, a drunk driving charge might carry a bail of $10,000, while physical assault might carry $50,000. 

Income

Judges will also base your bail amount on your current income. Payment may be lower if your salary is small. 

Whether judges decide to lower the bail amount based on income depends on their judgement. The California legislature developed the rule to make bail fairer and correlate it to a person’s means. 

Previous Criminal Record

Lastly, judges will consider your criminal record. More convictions may lead to higher bail requests. Moreover, officials may deny your bail if you have a history of flight (leaving the state) or court no-shows. 

Note courts won’t usually grant bail for serious crimes carrying heavy sentences, such as murder. Officials may determine that the risk of flight is too high. 

With that said, never discount the possibility of being granted bail. While algorithms determine bail amounts, it is ultimately the judge’s decision how much you pay, based on your case. 

Can You Bail Yourself Out Of Jail? 

You can bail yourself out of jail, and there are various ways to do this, as we shall explore in the next section. 

Unfortunately, bail amounts are usually tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Therefore, they can be prohibitively expensive. You may not have enough money in your checking account, and even if you do, you might not be able to access it from your jail cell. Usually, you will require the help of a family member or a bail bondsman. 

How Can You Bail Yourself Out Of Jail? 

Several legal options exist for bailing yourself out of jail following an arrest. The costs and benefits of these can vary considerably. 

Option 1: Pay Cash

As discussed above, you might consider paying cash upfront. This method lets you get out of jail quickly. 

Option 2: Borrow From Your Family

The second option is to borrow from your family. You might have money to put towards it but need help getting the rest. 

Option 3: Asking the judge for leniency

Asking the judge for leniency is a third option. They may offer clemency, reducing the bill or eliminating it instead asking you to sign an “own recognizance.” 

(Please note that if the judge does grant leniency, you must attend on your trial date. Judges are more likely to worsen your sentence if found guilty if you fail to meet your legal obligations). 

Option 4: Call a bail bondsman

Lastly, you can call a bail bondsman. This option lets you pay a small, non-refundable fee upfront for a bail agent to post bail on your behalf. 

The Pros And Cons OF Different Ways Of Bailing Yourself Out Of Jail

What Information Do You Need To Provide A Bail Bondsman With To Bail Yourself Out Of Jail? 

You’ll need to provide the bail bondsman with various information to bail you out of jail for them to grant your bail bond request. For instance, you should give them information about your:-

• Job history so that they can see you have a stable source of income and ties in the area
• Assets for collateral (if required as surety)
• Current place of residence to determine whether you live in the area and your level of flight risk
• Current level of income to determine the origin of your money and your ability to repay any financing arrangement

You can usually arrange bail if you are a low flight risk or have loved ones outside of jail who can contact bail agents. We can arrange jail visits with you to answer these questions, arrange conditions for bail, and sign any relevant paperwork. 

If you’d like to bail yourself out of jail in California, please contact our team at 24-Hour Bail Bonds Online. We offer instant quotes and the lowest prices guaranteed!