Need to know if you can post a bail bond on a felony charge? If you are short are time, the answer is YES in most cases in the state of California. Keep in mind that there are many variables the judge and courts may take into consideration when setting bail. Keep reading to learn more about posting bond on a felony charge.
Being arrested is an experience that can leave you feeling overwhelmed, scared, and unsure of what to do next. Whether you are the one in jail or your loved one has been arrested, you may be confused about the process of being released from jail and how the bail system works. There is no doubt that trying to understand how bail bonds and being released from jail work can be challenging. For those that face felony charges, navigating the system can seem even more complex and confusing. However, we are here to help and to make the process as easy as possible for you.
After being arrested for a felony offense, one question you may have on your mind is, “how soon can I be released?” This is a question we are often asked. In this blog post, we will discuss bond and, specifically, answer the important question of whether you can post bond on a felony charge. Here’s what you need to know:
What are Bail Bonds?
When you are granted a release from jail while you are awaiting trial, you will need to post bail. The bail amount is usually set by the court during a bail hearing. Once the bail amount has been paid, the defendant is free to leave jail while they await their trial.
Posting bail acts as a guarantee that you will attend court for your trial hearing.
Bail can be posted in a few different ways. Firstly, bail can be posted as a cash amount, which means you pay the full amount of the bail in cash to the jail. Secondly, you can post bail using property. This means that you use property as a guarantee that you will return to court for your hearing. Lastly, the most popular way to post bail is through the use of bail bonds. Bail bonds are a way to post bail without needing to pay the full bail amount yourself. Instead, you use a bail bondsman that guarantees the bail amount on your behalf. For most people, this is the most affordable way to secure their release from jail. When using bail bonds, you simply pay a percentage to the bail bondsman while they guarantee the full bail amount meaning that you can be released from jail.
Can You Post Bond on a Felony Charge?
There is a lot of confusion around the question of posting bail for felony charges. Many people assume that you can only post bond for misdemeanor offenses. However, in most cases, you can post bail on a felony charge. This is true of most jurisdictions in the United States.
While it is usually possible to post bond on a felony charge, there are a few things you need to be aware of. For a felony charge, you will usually need to have a bail hearing. During the hearing, the judge will decide whether they think you are a suitable candidate for bail. When deciding whether you can be released on bond, the judge will take a variety of factors into consideration:
- The safety of the public if you are to be released.
- The severity of the crime you have been accused of committing.
- Your past criminal history.
- Your perceived flight risk (how likely you are to flee ahead of your trial).
Taking all these factors into account, the judge will first decide whether you are suitable for bail. If the judge decides you can be released on bail, they will then set a bail amount.
How do Felony Bail Bonds Work in California?
Like most other states, California does allow defendants to be released on bail awaiting trial for most felony offenses.
The State of California Department of Justice specifies that if a person is charged with a serious felony, public safety and the safety of the victim of the alleged crime will be the primary considerations when the judge decides whether to grant bail. The probability of the person returning to court to face their trial will also be considered, along with their criminal history before bail is granted by the court.
Due to the nature of a felony offense, the bail amount is likely to be extremely high. For many people, the bail amount for a felony offense is unaffordable. This is why many people choose to use bail bonds to get released from jail.
Choosing a reputable bail bondsman in California is essential to secure the smooth release of yourself or your loved one from jail.
