When someone is arrested and taken into custody under suspicion of committing a crime, they will be unable to do much of anything until they are bailed out of jail. Bail allows a defendant to obtain their freedom before their court date. Interestingly, there are a lot of misconceptions about bail and the bail industry that can make the bail system (and, by extension, bail bonds) more harsh and complicated than they really are. Below we will dispel several myths about bail to help clarify your understanding of the process.
Myth #1 Everyone Qualifies for Bail
Most people do qualify for bail, however, eligibility is not necessarily automatic. Much depends on the nature of the offense the defendant was charged with. For example, when someone is arrested for a violent crime and there are serious concerns that they may be a danger to the public if they are granted release, they may be ineligible for bail.
Myth #2 The Bail Agency Determines Your Bail Amount
The amount of bail is determined by the type of crime and the bail schedule in the county that the defendant was arrested. In the case of Santa Clarita bail bonds, the bail costs are set by the Los Angeles County Felony Bail Schedule. No matter which bail agency you choose, bail amounts are set by the courts, not the bail bondsman.
Myth #3 You Have to Pay the Full Amount of Bail to be Released
You only need to pay the full amount of bail if you choose to bail someone out via cash bail. You will pay the full amount of bail to the court clerk to obtain the defendant’s release. Provided the defendant appears before the court at the appointed date and time, the bail will be refunded to you minus any relevant court fees.
When you work with a bail bondsman, you need to pay only a small fraction of the total bail amount to secure someone’s release. As long as the defendant shows up for court, you will not be liable for any additional charges. However, if the defendant does not appear, you will be required to pay the full amount of bail to the bail bondsman.
Bailing someone out of jail is a relatively simple process. We hope that dispelling these three myths helps make the bail process a little clearer. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.