If your friend or family member is sitting in jail after being charged with a crime, you want to get them out as soon as possible. In California, this usually means finding a way to raise the amount of bail money ordered by the Judge. Purchasing a bail bond from a reputable bail bond agency is the fastest way to get somebody you care about out of jail, often within just a few hours. The best California bail bond agencies are open 24/7, have negotiable rates, flexible payment plans and can often get your friend or family member out of jail in a matter of hours.

What Is Bail?

Bail is money that is required by the court to ensure that a criminal defendant will appear at their next court appearance. The amount of bail is determined by the severity of the crime, the likelihood that the defendant will flee the jurisdiction and other factors. It’s important to remember that somebody that’s considered a danger to the community or is likely to attack the victim of the crime again, may not be eligible for bail. If you can’t come up with the money for bail, you’ll have to remain in custody until your next appearance. This can can cause great financial hardship due being unable to work at your job or run your business, in addition to stress on your family from being short on childcare or other services you provide at home. That’s why posting bail and quickly as possible is priority number one.

What Are Bail Bonds?

Bails bonds are a type of loan that can be readily accessed to pay the amount of bail money requested by the court in exchange for a non-refundable payment of about 10% of the total bail amount. For example, if bail is set at $10,000, a bail bond will cost about $1,000. An experienced California bail bond agency can have you bailed out within a matter of hours, but your family and friends will need the following information to get the process started:

• Your full name;
• Your date of birth;
• The jail where you’re located;
• Your inmate number and
• The bail amount.

Once payment is rendered for the bail bond, the agent will post the bail and you’ll be released until your next court appearance, and you won’t have to spend any further time in jail unless you’re convicted and sentenced to jail time.

Bail Bond Rates

The standard rate for bail bonds is 10% of the bail amount, but it’s often possible to get a discount or arrange for a payment plan. If you’re a first offender with good credit, you might be able to negotiate a rate as low as 7%. Payment plans that only require 1% down are another option that can make bail bonds more affordable, but bail bond agencies in California can only offer them under the following conditions:

• Defendant must be a California resident;
• Two co-signers with:
  • Proof of employment (two pay stubs);
  • Proof of residency and
  • A California ID.
• Co-signers combined gross annual income must exceed the bail amount;
• First time offenders only;
• Arrest within the last 48 hours;
• Additional 2% payment within ten days;
• Balance paid off within a year;
• Limited to certain types of charges and
• Not applicable to federal or immigration cases.

If you qualify for 1% down bail bonds, they are a great way to get out of jail quickly, allowing you to return to your family and employment to raise the remaining fees.

What Happens If You Don’t Show Up In Court?

Bail bonds are issued with the expectation that you will show up on your court dates and that the court will return the money put up for bail to the California bail bond agency. If you miss an appearance, the bail bond company will hire a bounty hunter to find you and bring you back, and it’s unlikely you’ll be allowed out on bail again. If you can’t be found, action will be taken to obtain money and seize  property used as collateral from your friends and family that co-signed the bail bond on your behalf. Bail bonds are the best way to get out of jail quickly, but they are not “get out of jail free” cards - you are responsible for holding up your end of the bargain by showing up in court.