After an arrest for committing a crime in California, defendants are detained in jail cells awaiting trial. Sitting behind bars can take a toll on a defendant's life. California law allows defendants to secure a release before trial by posting bail. The bail money guarantees the defendant's return for trial and other court proceedings.
The judge sets bail for a defendant at the first arraignment. If you or a loved one faces an arrest and detention, you can post their bail in cash, using a property bond, or with the help of a bail bond service. When you opt for bail bonds, you will receive financial assistance and expert guidance from the surety company.
At Alana's Bail Bonds, we offer fast, affordable, and reliable bail bond services for our clients in Citrus Heights, CA.
An Overview of Bail Bonds
A bail bond is an agreement between a surety company, the court, and a defendant. In this agreement, the surety bonds company posts the bail for a defendant in exchange for an affordable fee. Many defendants and their families opt for a bail bond because it is affordable and convenient.
The process of posting bail begins after an arrest and detention. If you learn that your loved one is in jail, you can contact a Citrus Heights bail bonds company and seek their assistance. Upon receiving your request, the surety bonds company will send a local bail bondsman to handle your case.
The role of the bail bondsman in your case will include:
- Investigating your eligibility for the bond. Your Citrus Heights bail bondsman determines your eligibility for a bail bond by checking the defendant's flight risk. Additionally, the bondsman will ensure that you can pay for all the costs associated with the bond.
- Completing the paperwork. A bail bond is a contract. Therefore, you will need to sign different documents to enter the agreement. The bail bondsman will gather all the paperwork and guide you through signing it.
- Posting bail. If you agree to the terms of the bail bond and sign the agreement, the bail bondsman will go to court and secure your loved one's release.
- Guide you through the bail process. The bail process is complex. Therefore, the bail bondsman will help you understand all aspects of the process. This includes ensuring that the defendant follows the bail conditions and they appear for trial.
In exchange for their services, the bail bonds company will require you to pay a premium fee. The standard premium fee for a bail bond in California is 10% of the total. You must pay this fee before the surety company posts bail for your loved one.
If you cannot present the full premium fee upfront, you could negotiate a repayment plan with the surety company. With a repayment plan, you will pay a portion of the premium fee and cover the balance in installments.
In addition to the premium fee, the surety company may mandate that you present collateral for the bail bond. Collateral guarantees that the company will not lose its money in a forfeiture. Although the premium fee is non-refundable, you can recover the collateral after the case ends and the defendant appears for all proceedings.
What Happens to the Bail Money After My Case Ends?
Bail does not serve as a punishment for your crimes. However, your ability to recover the bail money depends on whether the defendant appears for scheduled court proceedings and trial. There are two main outcomes of bail:
Bail forfeiture
A bail forfeiture means that the court does not refund the money presented for bail. A court will forfeit the bail money if a defendant does not appear for trial. Additionally, a judge can order bail forfeiture when the defendant violates bail conditions.
If you post a cash bail, a bail forfeiture means that you will lose the full amount you presented to the court. For defendants who post a property bond, the court may sell the property to recover the bail money. A Citrus Heights bail bonds company can lose its money if your bail is forfeited. Before the forfeiture, the court may allow the company to find you and bring you back to court.
Under these circumstances, the court holds a bail bond forfeiture hearing. At this hearing, the surety company can present credible reasons for your failure to appear. At the end of the hearing, the court can forfeit the bail bond or modify the bail conditions. If a surety company loses its money in forfeiture, you cannot recover the property per item you used for bail bond collateral.
Bail Exoneration
Bail exoneration is the process by which the court releases a criminal defendant from the financial obligations of bail. If the court exonerates your bail, the bail money is refunded to the payer. An exoneration happens when the defendant fulfills all obligations of the bail release.
If you post a cash bail, you can recover the money through a check from the court within three weeks of the case's completion. For defendants who post a property bond, the court will lift the lien placed on the property.
An exoneration of a bail bond involves a refund of the bail money to the Citrus Heights Bail Bonds Company. Even after recovering the bail money, the surety company cannot refund the premium you paid. However, if you presented collateral for the bail bond, you can recover the collateral.
An arrest in Citrus Heights, CA, can result in detention at the following facilities:
South Placer County Jail
11801 Go For Broke Rd
Roseville, CA 95678
Sacramento County Main Jail
Courts serving Citrus Heights, CA:
Sacramento Superior Court
720 9th St
Sacramento, CA, 95814
Find a Reliable Bail Bonds Service Near Me
In California, defendants facing criminal charges can secure a release before trial by posting bail. A judge sets your bail on the first arraignment by considering the severity of your crimes and the factors of your case. There are several ways through which you can post your bail.
They include cash bail, property bonds, and bail bonds. Many defendants are unable to obtain cash or property bonds due to their financial commitment and the requirement that they have valuable property.
Fortunately, you can opt for a bail bond, which is more affordable and convenient. If you or your loved one is in jail and requires a bail bond, you will benefit from our services at Alana's Bail Bonds. Contact our Citrus Heights bail bondsmen at 619-468-9333 to discuss your bail needs.