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Bail can be posted at anywhere between $5,000 to $15,000. It can be difficult to secure this kind of money upfront.Depending on your financial situation or your personal preferences, you may be curious to know if your bond will go down if you stay in jail. 

In this article, we’ll answer that question, as well as considering whether there are any ways around cash bond payments.

Understanding Bail Payments: Jail Bonds Explained

A bail bond, or jail bond, is an amount of money that a defendant must pay to secure their release from jail pending a court date. This is a kind of surety bond and acts as an assurance that the defendant will appear in court when required. If a defendant appears on their trial date as agreed, they will receive the full amount of their bail bond back, regardless of the trial’s outcome. 

A judge will determine your bail bond based on things like the severity of your crime, your flight risk, and factors such as the length of time you’ve lived at your current residence. When a bail bond is set, a defendant can choose to either – 

  • Remain in jail until trial
  • Contact a bail bond agent
  • Pay bail in full upfront

Depending on your bail bond amount, paying upfront may not always be an option. In this instance, many defendants choose to contact a bail bond agent. Bail bond agents are professionals who will co-sign your bail bond for a 10% upfront fee. In some instances, however, you may consider remaining in jail, and may even hope that doing so might reduce the amount of bail you’re expected to pay. 

Bond Impact: Does it Decrease in Jail?

Does your bond go down when you stay in jail? After all, if your trial is scheduled in 40 days, but you remain in jail until there are just 20 days left, you may assume you’ll pay less due to a shorter release period. 

Unfortunately, this is not the case. While the judge considers many factors when deciding your bail amount, the time before trial is not one of them. In actuality, the only factors that impact the amount of bail you’ll need to pay include –

  • Your criminal history, including a past of nonappearances in court
  • Your employment status and history
  • Your place of residence
  • The severity of your crime
  • Your relationships and family ties
  • Your mental health
  • And so on

Ultimately, a bail bond depends on your level of flight risk before your trial. This risk remains the same whether you spend a few hours in jail or a few weeks. Because of this, most people prefer to either pay bail upfront or to work with a bail agent who can secure a fast release, so that they have more time to prepare for trial. 

ail Release: Can You Get Out of Jail Without Paying Bail?

The only way to escape bail payments is to remain in jail. This is rarely a preferable choice, as spending time in jail can take a significant toll on your well-being. Spending time in jail in the lead-up to a trial date can also have an impact on trial outcomes by leaving you less prepared to defend yourself.

There is no way to get out of jail and entirely avoid bail payments. However, it is possible to secure release without paying the full amount of your bail bond. 

When you contact a bail agent, they’ll get to work posting your bail for you, usually in a matter of hours. Most bail agents in California require only a 10% upfront payment. This allows you to get out of jail for a much lower sum of money. A bail agent will simply require some basic personal information, which may include – 

  • Your name and address
  • Your arrest charges
  • Where you’re being held
  • Your required bail amount

You will then arrange a payment agreement with your bail agent, which will typically involve appearing in court so that you can repay your bail money. If you do not appear in court, a bail agent also has the power to locate and detain you.

This allows you to get out of jail without paying your full bail amount and can be the fastest, most affordable option available. 

Alternatives to Paying Bail: What are Your Options?

It isn’t possible to get out of jail without paying bail, but if your bail amount is too high, you could consider some alternative plans of action. A bail agent is perhaps the most easily accessible of these, but if you’re still unable to pay, you could also consider pursuing –

  • Property bonds: A property bond is a kind of bond that uses property-based collateral, such as your house, for security in place of a bail payment. This is only an option if you own valuable property that is worth at least the full bail amount. In certain cases, property value must even exceed a bail bond amount by as much as 10-25%. 
  • Personal recognizance: Personal recognizance is possible in some minor cases, and means the court is willing to accept your assurance that you’ll appear in court, without requiring bail payment. This only tends to be possible in first-time misdemeanor cases, or with non-violent offenses that carry a low flight risk. 
  • Pretrial release schemes: Some pretrial release schemes are available for individuals from low-income families in rare cases. In this instance, an individual is allowed to leave jail without paying bail, but will typically need to be under supervision or limited to house arrest. 

When working with an experienced bail agent, it’s also sometimes possible to arrange another bail hearing. While this won’t prevent you from having to pay any bail, it is an alternative option that could result in a reduced bail bond that is more affordable for your circumstances. 

Don’t Waste Time: Work With Alana’s Bail Bonds

If you’re waiting around in jail in the hopes your bond will go down, you’re wasting precious time. Put that time to better use by contacting Alana’s Bail Bonds to discuss more effective options today. Whether you’re looking for a bail agent who can secure your release in a few hours or are seeking professional advice regarding your options, our team is on hand to help 24/7. Simply contact us online or at 619-468-9333 today.