Do You Have To Pay The Full Bail Amount In California?

April 26, 2024

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To answer the specific question in the headline, you need to know everything related to bail. In this article, we’re going to discuss just that so you can be well educated in the matter for future reference.

How does bail work?

The term bail refers to the amount of money required to grant an arrested person’s freedom from jail. It’s also granted as a refund if paid in full once the defendant makes all court appearances.

Bail can be made payable in the form of cash, a bail bond, or a property bond. Cash is the least likely option considering people don’t often have thousands of dollars handy. Instead, most defendant’s, or loved ones bailing defendant’s out, opt for a bail bond.

How is bail set? 

In California, there are set bail schedules in each county. The only way that schedule will change is if the judge deems the defendant a flight risk, or additional information towards the crimes committed has been presented, leading towards a custom bail amount. 

If a judge is required to set bail himself or herself, they’ll take the crime into account as well as the accused person’s history.  

Will the full bail amount always be returned to the defendant?

If the defendant has paid bail in full and in cash, all he or she has to do is appear at all court hearings and the full amount will be returned. If working with a bail bonds company, the circumstances are different. No funds will be returned per the signed contract.

Do you have to pay the full bail amount in california? 

If you choose to pay a cash bail, the full amount must be paid for the defendant’s immediate, temporary release. However, if the accused is working with a bail bondsman, circumstances will change.

Legally, a bail bonds company will request around 10% of the bail amount to help release the defendant from jail. In exchange, the company will pay the full amount of bail and later get the full amount back once the trial is complete. The charged 10% that you pay will go to the bail bonds company as profit, but at least the full amount is not necessary to secure release. 

What happens if you don’t pay bail bonds?

If you don’t have the full 10% to offer the bail bondsman at first, the defendant is given options. For instance, they can request a payment plan. But, if that payment plan is not adhered to, the company can sue the defendant in civil court for the remaining amount due, plus some. 

Unfortunately, if the case gets this far, the bail bonds company can revoke their bond to help get the defendant out of jail. This means that the defendant will have to find another source willing to legally help or they’ll have to fork up the full amount of bail in cash. As a last resort, the defendant may be sent directly to jail until the court case/trial is fully complete. 

If you need help from a bail bonds company, look no further than Rocket Bail Bonds. Our team of professionals is waiting by the phone ready to assist in any way they can to help defendants like you obtain immediate freedom. We are fully committed to sustaining a professional work environment, providing our clients with informative information, staying loyal long-term, and showcasing our dedication every step of the way. Bring your concerns to us, and we’ll take care of the rest! You can count on our trusted word.

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