The commercial bail bond system is a unique option that allows a criminal defendant to pay a sum of money in order to be released from jail until their trial date. It’s a unique choice given to defendants in the United States, Philippines and few other western nations. However, there are a couple of restrictions and conditions put in place. But how much does a criminal defendant actually have to pay?
In the state of California, judges are typically responsible for the amount that you must pay in order to get out of jail after being charged with a crime. Bails can be anywhere from just $500 all the way up to $50,000 and beyond depending on the crime that was committed.
Unfortunately, most people won’t be able to pay their bail in a single go. This is because they’re rather expensive and most people wouldn’t have thousands of dollars laying around to pay it off in one payment. This means that you’ll most likely need to work with a bail bond company such as Balboa Bail Bonds. These companies will take a small fee and then help you pay your bail. In exchange, you’ll turn up to the court on the date that is requested and the court will release the funds back to the agency.
But how exactly do you calculate bail bonds in California? How do you know how much money you’ll be paying?
Calculating bail bonds in California
Regardless of how much the bail amount is, bail bonds are considerably cheaper than attempting to pay the full bail amount in one go. In most cases, you’ll be expected to pay around 10% of the bail amount. So if your bail is $10,000, you’ll only be paying $1,000 upfront to secure the funds needed. As long as you meet the conditions and attend court on the requested date, the bail bond company’s funds will be released and they’ll be paid back in full.
Bail bond companies usually have some kind of a bail bond calculator to check how much you’ll be paying. This will depend on your bail amount. All you have to do is enter the bail amount you’ve been requested to pay, and then you’ll see how much the bail bond company will charge you. It’s worth keeping in mind that most bail bond calculators don’t actually include collateral and other associated costs. In order to get a full picture and understanding of how much you can expect to pay for a bail bond, it’s best to get in touch with us so we can give you a more accurate number.
However, even $1,000 can be a fairly steep price to pay for some people. Thankfully, bail bond companies do allow you to set up payment plans so that you can pay off the bail bond in installments. Spreading the cost of your bail bond over months or even years can improve your chances of fully paying it off without it causing a major impact on your life or finances.
How is bail calculated in California?
Most bail amounts will be set by the officer that made the arrest. This is done so that the defendant is given an opportunity to secure their release as quickly as possible. However, a judge may decide to change this bail amount if they believe it to be too low or too high. Due to inflation, past bail amounts may be a lot lower than what they might be worth today. Judges will typically review past bail and calculate inflation to ensure that bail amounts reflect similar circumstances from the past.
Some judges may also raise bail amounts if there is a higher risk that the defendant will attempt to skip court. This will usually be based on statistics such as crimes that result in higher absenteeism, or criminals that may already have a record. The severity of the crime and the defendant’s income are also factors that will need to be taken into consideration before a bail amount is set.
Should you consider a bail bond?
Absolutely. Bail bonds are usually the only way for someone to pay bail because the amount requested is far too large for a single payment. Most people don’t have thousands of dollars laying around that can be used in one payment. With bail bonds lowering the cost of bail and bail bond services and providing various payment options, it makes paying bail a lot more realistic.
Defendants have jobs, they have families, and they have commitments. If they spend too long in a cell, then they’re going to fall behind on their finances and they won’t be able to look after their families. As such, not paying the bail is simply not an option they can consider. They have to pay bail and the only way to do so would be to use a bail bond service.
It’s also worth mentioning that bail bond agents work quickly, efficiently, and with respect to the defendant’s circumstances. They understand that people have their commitments, and they understand how to work behind the scenes in order to both secure your bail and provide you with peace of mind.
Contact us today
So if you’re interested in securing a bail bond or want to learn more about our services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. Simply call us at 619-760-2222 or contact us via our email. We’re confident that we can help you secure bail so that you can continue with your commitments. With our friendly service, variety of payment options, and simple-to-understand plans, we can provide you with the assistance that you need to pay your bail.
Tags: How to Calculate a Bail Bond in California