Navigating the bail bonds system efficiently can get you or a loved one out of police custody quickly. At Rocket Bail Bonds, we offer services that allow defendants of many financial backgrounds to keep their freedom while awaiting trial. Here’s some information about how our bail bonds work:
Understanding Bail
Bail is a sum of money a person charged with a crime can pay to get out of jail. It acts as insurance that the defendant will return to trial because they can receive money back after sentencing. A judge sets the size of a defendant’s bail depending on the severity of their crimes and their flight risk.
Dollar amounts are regulated by the state and assigned at the judge’s discretion. If the charges being filed are serious or the defendant has a high risk of not appearing in court, the judge generally sets higher bail amounts. Bail may not be offered if the judge deems the defendant a significant flight risk or threat to public safety. If a defendant doesn’t have the resources to pay bail, they must remain in jail until their trial. Southern California residents can use the Rocket Bail Bonds underwriter team to help them pay large bail amounts.
Understanding Bail Bonds
A bail bond is a contract in which a defendant agrees to appear in court in exchange for enough money to meet bail. Bonds are similar to personal loans and are made through our underwriters, not through the court system directly. The State of California regulates the size of the down payment, called the premium. This payment is usually set at ten percent of the total cost of bail.
Using Bonds
When police suspect a person of committing a crime and arrest them, they are held in jail until they can meet with a judge. During their first court session, called arraignment, the judge formally charges the defendant with a crime and sets the cost of bail. The defendant then returns to jail and becomes eligible for release.
A representative for the defendant, often a friend or relative, may then contact our bonding office to negotiate a bail bond. The defendant’s representative pays the premium and receives money to pay the courts, which is called posting bail. Once the courts process the payment, police release the defendant until their next court date. This allows them to attend work, school, and family obligations.
Repaying Bonds
As long as the defendant attends every court date, the courts return most or all of their bail at the end of the trial. Our offices collect that money as payment for the bond. If a defendant misses a court date, they forfeit their bail, and the state keeps the money. The defendant or their representative must then pay the entire cost of the bail to cover the bond.
Work With Local Bondsman
Rocket Bail Bonds serves multiple communities in southern California, including San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange County. Our experience with local regulations means we can process bail bonds in as little as fifteen minutes. We offer flexible payment plans and provide clients with free informational resources. Call our 24-hour hotline today for a free consultation.
