A criminal arrest usually leads to charges, a trial, and a possible conviction. You risk jail confinement, hefty fines, and a criminal record with devastating collateral consequences when found guilty. You can reduce the chances of a guilty verdict by exiting pretrial detention early to hire a private defense attorney and prepare for the trial. At Alana’s Bail Bonds, we can post your bail and offer guidance post-release in Pacific Grove.
Significance of Posting Bail After An Arrest
After arrest, you could be released with a citation to appear, which is a yellow note that indicates your offense and expected court date. When you sign this document, the police will release you without booking. Citations are issued for low-risk misdemeanors. For a more serious misdemeanor or felony offense, you will be taken to jail for booking and processing, awaiting a court appearance. During this period, you could post the bail provided on the Monterey County bail schedule or await a court’s decision on your bail during arraignment. Besides, you could be released without bail through Own Recognizance.
The three pretrial release options have great significance in the outcome of your case. Given the delays and backlogs in the California justice system, it takes weeks, months, and sometimes years to conclude a case. A pretrial release has a lot of significance in your case, as it allows you to:
- Enlist the services of a competent defense lawyer
- Resume work and continue generating income
- Reunite with your family and continue providing for them
- Protect your reputation or image
- Seek treatment or counseling
Posting Pacific Grove Bail
When the court grants you bail, you have three options recognized by the law. You can pay cash bail, property bond, or bail bonds. Each option is customized to meet the defendant’s financial needs and charge type.
Cash Bail
Cash bail is a bail option that involves paying the full bail amount in cash to the relevant court clerk or detention facility. Apart from money, courts accept credit and debit card payments, certified personal and bankers' checks, and money orders.
The defendant exits pretrial detention pending court hearings when the cash is paid. If they attend court and the case trial ends, the money is refunded, regardless of the verdict. However, the refund comes minus the administrative fees, so you receive less than you deposited.
It is impractical for many defendants and their families to afford this amount. Even the few who can afford the bail hesitate to post bail because the money will not generate interest during the trial process. They prefer to invest the money elsewhere and make profits. Therefore, even those with money for cash bail sometimes explore other acceptable bail options.
Property Bonds
PEN 1276.5 allows you to use your real property to secure a pretrial release using your real property. The court places a lien on your property, which gives them an interest if you violate bail terms. However, the property must be utilized twice or thrice the bail figure. Additionally, you must prove ownership and present recent appraisal documents showing its market value.
For homeowners with challenges posting bail, using property bonds is practical but has many downsides. These include:
- You must verify property ownership and value, which can take days or weeks, extending your pretrial detention
- Skipping court could result in the loss of your lifetime investment, like a home, vehicle or real estate
- The documentation process is usually complex and requires professionals like property appraisers who charge for their services.
Therefore, before giving the court an interest in your property as security for bail, you should think carefully and use a property bond when bail bonds and cash bail are unavailable.
Bail Bonds
Purchasing bail bonds is the most feasible and straightforward bail option. It involves hiring a Pacific Grove bail bonds entity at a small non-refundable fee. In exchange, the Pacific Grove bail bonds firm deposits a surety bond with the court, guaranteeing your future court attendance post-release. The firm's fee is normally 10% of the bail, although some companies offer discounts, lowering the fees further.
Because it is difficult to deal with a Pacific Grove bail bonds firm from behind bars, you appoint a cosigner, usually a friend or loved one, who handles the bail bondsman on your behalf. The cosigner pays the fees or agrees on a repayment plan, then signs the paperwork for your release. Sometimes, the company demands collateral, and it is up to the cosigner to present it.
Pacific Grove Bail Bonds Eligibility
Not every defendant qualifies for bail bonds. When you, a cosigner, call a Pacific Grove bail bonds firm, they will have several questions to establish if you qualify for their services. The questions are focused on homeownership, credit rating, employment status, citizenship, and family status. From the evaluation, they determine if collateral is necessary. The collateral could be real estate, personal property, a vehicle, or cash.
Requirements for Posting Pacific Grove Bail Bonds
As a cosigner, you must be above the legal age of 18 and lawfully residing in the U.S. Additionally, you must furnish your bail bondsman with the following:
- Proof of income, including pay stubs from the last three months
- A valid ID or driver’s license
- Proof of residency, like a utility bill
Besides, the bail bondsman will require details of the defendant’s charges, jail name and location, birth date, and booking number.
Once you provide these details, you will fill out bail forms while the experts draw up the contract. After the paperwork is ready, you will pay the bail premium as agreed and sign the contract. A bail bondsman will then be sent to deposit the bond for the defendant’s pretrial freedom.
Before cosigning a bail bonds contract, you should inquire about the responsibilities. You will risk your property and money to help the defendant obtain freedom. Therefore, ensure they are people you can trust.
Jail and Court Information
Monterey County Jail
1410 Natividad Road
Salinas, CA 93906
Monterey County Superior Court
1200 Aguajito Road
Monterey, CA 93940
Find a Reliable Bail Bondsman Near Me
An arrest does not make you guilty of a crime. However, how you prepare your defenses for trial will decide the case's verdict. The best preparations can be done while you are on the outside because you can afford a private attorney and ample time to discuss the case and evaluate evidence. At Alana’s Bail Bonds, we will facilitate your early pretrial freedom through our bail bonds service to ensure you resume your normal life and start preparing for upcoming court hearings. Call us at 619-468-9333 to begin processing your temporary release in Pacific Grove.
