Facing arrest in Sacramento can be a confusing and scary experience. This is especially so when it is your first time. The situation may even be more challenging when you have to post bail to secure your release and do not have the money. However, do not worry. We at Alana’s Bail Bonds can come to your aid. At just a small fee, we can help you post bail by securing you the fastest Sacramento Bail bond. Call us now to start the process.
What Bail Is and How Much It Is
When the police arrest you in Sacramento after suspecting you of committing a crime, they will take you in for questioning. Based on the facts of the crime, you can then undergo police booking. After booking, you will be held at the main jail in downtown Sacramento as the D.A. decides whether or not to press charges. If the D.A. does not press charges, the police will release you, and you will have no case to answer. If they do file charges, you will be scheduled for your first court appearance, called the arraignment.
At the arraignment, the judge will inform you of your charges and ask you to plead. You can plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest. If you plead guilty or no contest, the case proceeds straight to sentencing. If you plead not guilty, the judge may proceed to set bail.
Bail is the money you must deposit with the court to secure your release from custody pending your trial. In addition to paying this amount, you must promise to make court appearances whenever required. Bail is not a punishment or fine. It is meant to ensure you make court appearances as scheduled. If you appear at all your proceedings, the court will refund the bail amount at the end of your trial. If you do not, you lose the money to the court.
The bail value the judge sets is contingent on the offense you are accused of. More severe offenses attract higher bail amounts. A bail schedule helps the judge determine the bail amount to set. This is a list of preapproved bail values for specific offenses. Every county in California has its bail schedule. The Sacramento County bail schedule can be found here.
Judges can set the exact bail amount as indicated in the bail schedule. Alternatively, they can set a higher or lower amount than the bail schedule indicates. Factors such as your criminal record, flight risk, and likelihood to appear in court help them decide how much to impose as bail. Essentially, they want to set the value high enough so you have an excellent reason to attend court.
The judge will not set bail in some situations. In that case, you must remain in custody until your trial date.
How to Pay Bail
Once the judge has set bail, you must deposit the amount before you can leave jail. There are three primary ways to pay bail in Sacramento: cash bail, property bonds, and Sacramento bail bonds.
- Cash bail: This is where you post the full amount with the court in cash. Some courts accept payment in checks. Cash bail is the fastest way to make bail, but is expensive. That is because you will require immediate access to money. Considering that bail amounts can be higher, not so many people have the money readily available to pay.
- Bail bonds: Bail or surety bonds involve contacting a local Sacramento bail bonds service to help you pay bail. You will need to pay a fee known as a premium. This fee is usually 10% of the total bail amount and is non-refundable. Bonds are the most prevalent option, as clients only pay part of the bail value.
- Property bonds: This is where you give a valuable property to the court in exchange for your release. Courts require that the property’s value be twice the bail amount. This option is not so common in Sacramento. That is because processing a property bond is a time-consuming process. The court must first appraise the property to ascertain its value, which takes time.
The Sacramento Bail Bonds Process
If you decide to hire a Sacramento bail bonds service once the judge sets bail, the next step will be to make a phone call. A bondsman will then need to know basic details about you, including:
- Your full name, phone number, address
- Your alleged crime
- The location of your arrest
- Where you are being held
- Your criminal history
The bondsman will use the information collected to draft a contract and application. You will complete the application and contract and pay the 10% fee and maybe collateral. After payment, the bondsman will travel to court to pay the bail amount.
You will then be set free from custody and must appear on all the required court dates. If you fail to appear, the bondsman will forfeit the bond amount. They may then pursue you for a refund. However, if you attend all hearings, the court will refund the bondsman their bond money, not you. Note that even if the bondsman receives their bond money back after the case ends, the premium is still non-refundable. That is because it is the company’s fee for its services.
Since the bondsman will be risking by paying you bail, they might request collateral to secure your bond if you flee town. They might also need you to have a co-signer with a good credit score to guarantee your bond. Collateral is usually something of value, including a car, jewelry, or a deed to a house. If you miss court and the bondsman forfeits the bond money, they may sell the collateral to recover their money.
Jail Information
Sacramento County Main Jail,
Phone No.:916-874-6752
Court Information
Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento
720 9th Street
Sacrament, CA 95814
Phone No.: 916-874-5522
Find a Reliable Sacramento Bail Bonds Service Near Me
A lack of money should not be why you remain in jail even after the judge sets bail. A bail bond service can aid you and enable you to await trial outside of jail. At Alana’s Bail Bonds, we can assist if you need to acquire a Sacramento bail bond to secure your jail release. Our professional bondsmen will ensure a quick and streamlined bond posting process so you are out of jail within the shortest time possible. Call us at 619-468-9333 for more information.
