Being arrested is something that no one wants to experience. If you find yourself in jail, you probably have just one thing on your mind; getting released as soon as possible.
The latest figures from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) show that, on average, every day in San Diego, an average of 155 adults and six juveniles are arrested. So if you find yourself in this position, you are certainly not alone.
There is no doubt that being locked up is an overwhelming and stressful experience. When you find yourself in this situation, it can be challenging to think clearly about what is happening and how to get the situation sorted out and resolved as fast as you can.
If you find yourself or a loved one behind bars, it is helpful to know how the process works and what your rights are. The more you understand about what happens when you are arrested, the easier it will be to get yourself back home and reunited with your family.
In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about what happens when you are arrested and how bail bonds work in San Diego. Read on to discover more:
What Happens When You Get Arrested?
The first question you may have is what actually happens when you are arrested. Being arrested can be a scary experience, but it will be a lot less stressful if you understand how the process works and how to get yourself out of jail.
When you are arrested, you will first be taken to the county jail. Once you arrive, you will be booked.
After you have been booked, a couple of different scenarios can occur. Firstly, you could be released on bail by the jail, which will apply the San Diego Bail Schedule to set your bail amount.
The second option is that you will attend a court hearing, where the judge will decide whether you can be released from jail ahead of your trial. If the judge agrees to your release, they will set a bail amount that you will need to pay before you can get out of jail.
What is Bail?
You may have heard the term bail spoken about, but be unsure of its meaning. Well, bail is essentially used as a form of security. When a defendant is released from jail on bail, they post bail on the understanding that they will attend court to stand trial.
Bail acts as a guarantee that the defendant will return and appear in court on the day of their trial. The point of posting bail is to stop defendants from taking off and not attending their trials. The bail is set at an amount high enough to ensure that the defendant does not skip bail and instead will attend court for their trial.
Can You Be Held Without Bail in San Diego?
While most defendants in San Diego will be released on bail, this is not always the case. There are situations where defendants may be held without bail. This usually happens when a defendant is charged with a felony and is considered a strong flight risk.
How to Post Bail in San Diego
While bail is a term that you may be familiar with, it is important to note that the way bail works can differ depending on your location. It is vital to be aware that bail can vary from country to country, state to state, and even from county to county, so how you post bail in San Diego will be very different to posting bail in other parts of the United States.
Understanding how to post bail and the specific process for your location is essential. Here is how to post bail in San Diego:
As mentioned above, after being arrested and taken to jail in San Diego, you will be booked. Once you have been booked, you will either be offered bail, and the bail amount will be set by the San Diego Bail Schedule.
Alternatively, you will be held in jail, and a bail hearing will be held where a judge will decide whether you can be released. If the judge decides you will be held without bail, you will need to remain in jail until your trial date.
In most cases, the judge will allow you to be released on bail. If you are granted release on bail, the judge will set your bail amount while you are in court. This gives you two options; you can either post bail and be released from jail until your trial date, or you can choose to remain in jail until you are due in court for your trial.
How Much is Bail in San Diego?
After being arrested and booked, the jail may allow you to be released on bail. In San Diego, people that have committed misdemeanor offenses are often released by the jail after being booked. The bail amount that you will need to pay to be released from jail will vary depending on the type of offense you are accused of committing.
When setting your bail amount, the jail will refer to the San Diego Bail Schedule. The San Diego Bail Schedule lists different offenses and the bail amount that needs to be paid. This means that the amount of bail you need to pay will vary according to the crime you have been accused of committing.
If you are not released on bail from the jail, you will be held in jail before receiving a bail hearing in front of a judge. This will usually take place within 24 hours but can sometimes take longer. Just as when you are released directly from jail, the judge will also consider the nature of your offenses when deciding whether to grant bail
The more serious the offense is that you are accused of, the higher the bail amount is likely to be. When setting the bail amount that you need to pay in San Diego, the judge will also consider other factors. Your flight risk will be a major factor in deciding your bail amount. If the judge believes that there is a high chance of you failing to appear in court for your trial, they may set your bail amount at a higher level.
The Process of Posting Bail in San Diego: How it Works
Once you know the bail amount that you need to pay to be released from jail, you can get to work arranging to pay it. The sooner you get started on this process, the sooner you can go back home and get on with your life until the trial date.
The first thing you can do to secure your release is to phone a friend or relative to get them to arrange bail for you. Alternatively, you can contact a bail bond company directly yourself.
The bail amount can be paid as either cash, property, or as a bail bond. As bail amounts usually involve a large sum of money, few people have the spare cash to pay bail by themselves. Instead, many people choose to use bail bonds.
How do Bail Bonds Work in San Diego?
Getting a bail bond in San Diego is a fast and effective way to get out of jail. Here’s how bail bonds work in San Diego:
A bail bond acts as a guarantee that you will return to court for your trial. This is why the greater your flight risk, the higher your bail amount will usually be. Using a bail bond company makes posting bail so much easier and is far less of a financial burden than trying to pay the full amount in cash or property.
A bail bond agency will post the bail on your behalf and will charge you a non-refundable fee which is equivalent to 10% of the bail amount. All you then need to do is to turn up at court for your trial as agreed by the court.
When posting bail, your first step is to find a reputable bail bond company to provide you with the bail bond. Getting yourself or your loved one out of jail as fast as possible is your main priority, so it is vital that you choose a bail bond company that you can depend on to work quickly.
You can select a bail bond company using the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Bail Bond Agency List. This list is updated each year, so provides the most up-to-date, accurate information.
How to Use a Bail Bond Agency in San Diego
Once you have the list of bail bond agencies in San Diego County, it is time to choose an agency and contact them to start the process of posting bail.
It is important to get in contact with the bail bond agency as fast as possible to speed up your release.
When you contact the bail bond agency, you will need to give them the defendant’s details. These details will help the bail bond agency locate you or your loved one in the jail system.
If you are posting bail on behalf of someone else, you will also need to provide your name, your address, your driver’s license or ID. This basic information will get the release process started right away.
How the Bail Bond Agency Can Help You
Once they have your basic information, the bail bond agency can start processing your case. This is where choosing the best bail bond agency is essential. Selecting the very best bail bond agency will ensure that the entire process is a lot easier. Here’s how it works:
- After getting your details, we will locate the defendant, establish what they have been charged with, and get the information regarding their bail.
- We will then explain the bail release process to you and find the best solution to pay the bond.
- We cover the full amount of the bail.
- The jail begins its release process, and you or your loved one are free to return home while awaiting trial.
One question many people are keen to know the answer to is how long will it take for themselves or their loved one to be released from jail after the bail bond has been paid. In most cases, San Diego jails start the release process right away as soon as they receive the bail payment.
In San Diego County, bail can be posted up to 3.00 am on the day of the defendant’s court appearance. A payment for bail is accepted in San Diego between 6.00 am and 3.00 am.
It is important to note that bail cannot be accepted if the defendant is already in court or on their way to the court.
How to Choose the Best Bail Bond Agency in San Diego
Navigating the process of being arrested and then bailed can be confusing, but it is so much easier when you have the best bail bond agency to help you.
Here at Balboa Bail Bonds, we pride ourselves on offering a high-quality, reliable bail bond service to defendants in San Diego County.
We make the bail process hassle-free and as simple as possible. When you choose Balboa Bail Bonds, you will benefit from fast, easy payment plans that include 0% interest and no money down for qualified applicants.
Our transparent fees mean you know exactly how much you will pay, and we will never charge you mobile service fees, posting fees, or processing fees. We even have military discounts available.
With Balboa Bail Bonds, you can be sure you are getting the fastest release times at the lowest prices.
We are open 24/7 and offer service to all California and several local San Diego County offices, so contact us today and let us take care of your loved one’s release from jail quickly and effectively.
Using our bail bond service will get you reunited with your loved ones faster. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.
Tags: How Bail Bonds Work In San Diego