If detained, the California justice system permits you to be released from detention only after you pay the money the judge set or in the bail schedule. The money acts as a guarantee that you will attend all your court proceedings and hearings. If you can't afford to post the entire bail amount, you can consider working with an experienced bondsman like Mr Nice Guy Bail Bonds. With many years of experience, we recognize that unexpected events happen, and we can offer you support to secure your release. Our services are available 24/7 around the clock to all courts and jails in California. Additionally, our agents are experienced and trained to make decisions that meet your needs.
Understanding the Term "Bail"
If you are arrested in Clovis, the police won't release you unless they are sure that you will appear in all your case-related court proceedings. If you could prove that you aren't a flight risk and you have significant ties in your community, the court could release you on your own recognizance.
If you aren't released on your own recognizance, you will pay some money in bail. You should deposit the amount with the court.
How Bail is Set
The judge can set your bail within twenty-four hours of your arrest. While every California county has its bail schedule, the judge has the discretion to increase or reduce the bail amount under PC 1275.
When determining the bail amount, the judge will consider the following factors:
- Your criminal record
- The seriousness of the crime committed
- Whether you used a firearm or gun to commit the crime
- Existence of aggravating factors
- Whether you pose a public safety risk
- Whether you are a flight risk
The judge can also lower the bail amount during your arraignment. The arraignment is your initial court appearance. During the hearing, you may enter a plea of not guilty, no contest, or guilty. When you plead not guilty, the judge will address your bail. Both your criminal defense attorney and the prosecutor will provide evidence to have your bail increased or reduced. Your seasoned lawyer can also argue that you should be released on your own recognizance (OR).
The judge might also consider your qualification for conditional release. In this case, the judge will agree to a reduced bail amount in return for you complying with bail conditions.
Ways of Posting Bail
There are several types of bail, each with its set of regulations, rules, and purpose. Here are different options for posting bail.
- Using collateral — You can use property to pay your bail. It can be your home, car, or jewelry. The court will acquire the lien against the asset and foreclosure it if you fail to appear in court.
- Using a bondsman — It is the most effective method of posting your bail, especially if you can't afford the entire bail amount. A surety insurance form backs the bail bond agent and will post the bond on your behalf. In exchange, you will pay a specific portion of your entire bail amount to the agency (usually ten percent). Please note, the premium is non-refundable. You will require a loved one to serve as a co-signer for money the bondsman incurs if you skip bail.
- Posting cash bail — The defendant should have adequate money to foot the entire bail amount. You can pay using credit cards or checks.
1275 Hold Hearings
A 1275 hold is when a hold is placed on an accused person's bail because there exists probable cause that the funds used to post bail stemmed from a commission of a felony. Under Penal Code Section 1275.1 PC, a judge, police officer, or prosecutor can initiate the hold. Please note that holds don't apply to misdemeanor crimes.
The holds are common in drug crimes, embezzlement, extortion, gang crimes, and felony grand theft.
After the court places the hold on your bail, you can challenge it at a Penal Code Section 1275 court hearing. During the hearing, you should demonstrate by the preponderance of the evidence that your funds are clean. To build your case, you can submit the following pieces of evidence:
- Tax returns
- Loan agreements
- Bank statements
- Credit card statement
- Sale transactions
- Pay stubs
- Auto payments
- Evidence of your income
- Mortgage/rent documentation or payment
You can also call witnesses to testify to the lawful nature of your bail money. It can be your bondsman, criminal defense lawyer, or even a loved one.
Should the court ascertain the security or money involved originates from a legitimate source, the judge will remove your hold and accept the bail.
Ensure the attorney representing you at this hearing is familiar with the court with your case's jurisdiction, knows your bail bond agent, the judge, and the prosecutor.
Securing Your Clovis Bail Bonds Using Cryptocurrency
While it is convenient to use Ethereum and Bitcoin to post bail, you cannot use them to satisfy your bail requirement. Since cryptocurrency values are volatile, courts don't accept them as cash, money orders, or other conventional payment methods.
Fortunately, all hope isn't lost. A call to a seasoned bail bond agent will permit you to secure your bail bond in a couple of minutes. The agency will only require a premium of ten percent of your total bail amount to get you out of jail. To learn more about using Litecoin, BitcoinCash, Bitcoin, and Ethereum, contact your qualified bondsman.
Bailing a Person Out of Jail Online
Posting bail bonds is now available, and you can help a loved one at the comfort of your home. Whether the person making the online bail bonds arrangements is within California or not is a non-issue provided the charges are within the California judicial system. That means it is a perfect option for grandparents, friends, parents, colleagues, and relatives wishing to help, yet they are too far to make a trip to the agency's office or jail. All you need is to make your initial down payment and then make subsequent payments from your phone or computer.
Please note that immigration and federal charges bonds don't qualify for online bail bonds. These Clovis bail bonds are only available for traffic arrests, criminal charges, arrest warrants, assault and battery, driving under the influence (DUI) related cases, and domestic violence-related issues.
Before beginning the application process, you will require the accused person's full name, email address, home address, phone number, birthday, social media handles, and occupation. The information will help the Clovis bail bondsman contact the defendant after their release to ensure they understand their responsibility to satisfy the terms imposed and attend all court proceedings.
The bondsman will also require you to provide your full name, social security number, photo ID, birthday, official ID, and driver's license. The agency will use this information to conduct your background check.
All documents could be completed online and signatures acquired via fax, email, DocuSign, whatever is most convenient for you.
Although it is uncomfortable to provide this information in an online format, it is worth noting that it's conducted over secure networks, and renowned agencies do not share the information with persons outside the process.
Some of the methods of payment you can use to set up the online bail bond include:
- PayPal
- Debit cards
- Credit cards
- Zelle
- Venmo
- Western Union
- Prepaid Cards
- Wire Transfers
- Coinbase
- Cash
- Bitcoin
One Percent Bail Bonds
As previously mentioned, bondsmen make money from premiums. The defendant will negotiate bail bond payments when applying to have the bond posted. The agency will require the defendant to be truthful, straightforward, and professional about their financial position during the payment negotiations.
Some of the factors the provider will consider include:
- Criminal background
- Collateral and assets provided
- The seriousness of the alleged crime
- Your credit rating and financial situation
- Your bail bond mode of payment
- Employment status
- Possible jail time
If you succeed in your negotiations, the bondsman might permit you to pay a one percent down payment and then clear the remaining amount later.
How Long Does It Take to Process Your One Percent Bail Bonds in Clovis?
The duration of your bail process depends primarily on the jurisdiction, the crime, bail amount, and your court case's length. The bail could be set the same day you are detained. If your arrest happens on the weekend or at night, you may have to wait until the next business day.
After the court sets the bail amount, the release will depend mainly on how fast you or your loved ones contact the provider. The agency will then contact the jail or contact and post your bail amount. Typically, the release will take between thirty minutes and ten hours after your bail has been paid depending on the location of the jail, how many people are waiting on the line, and the number of employees in the jail.
When you secure 1% bail bonds, you are responsible for notifying your bondsman whenever there are changes in your name, social security number, or address. Explaining these details of the changes prevents facing legal action for any defaulted payment.
Mistakes to Avoid When Using Bail Bond Services in Clovis
While you need to act fast after your arrest, making a wrong decision is a possibility. If precautions aren't taken, the decision could result in more severe consequences. Here are common mistakes to avoid.
Failing to Ask the Bondsman the Right Questions
Many people do not research bail bond firms until they require one. At the moment, they feel that time is of the essence and should get their relative or friend out of detention.
Well, you should not rush the bail process. When you reach your agency, you need to prepared to ask the correct questions like:
- How much fee do you charge for your services?
- How long does the release take?
Failing to Evaluate the Defendant
The bondsman posts bail so your relative or friend can be released from jail. Due to the risk involved, the provider ensures adherence to the laws by asking for collateral. It can be stocks, real estate, jewelry, credit cards, or motor vehicles. The agency will seize the asset if it loses the bail amount because of failure to adhere.
Since that collateral is your property, you should evaluate the person you are co-signing for. The defendant should:
- be accountable enough to comply with bail conditions, including attending all court hearings, and
- have community ties and family obligations.
Failing to Understand Bail Conditions
Comprehending bail terms and conditions will aid you in analyzing whether you want to post for somebody else or not. Some of the bail terms and conditions imposed in Clovis include:
- The defendant should wear a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor device (SCRAM)
- The accused person should surrender their driver's license and passport since their travel is restricted.
- The defendant might be placed on house arrest through electronic monitoring.
- The defendant should check into an inpatient treatment facility
- Not operating a motor vehicle with any level of alcohol in the bloodstream
- Not contacting the alleged victim
- Not interacting with specific people or visiting particular areas
While these conditions are limitless, the judge should not impose conditions that violate the accused Constitutional Due Process rights.
Lying to the Court and the Bondsman
Both the court and the bondsman will ask you numerous questions when securing bail. The questions are tailored to prove that:
- you cannot afford to post the entire bail amount, and
- you will satisfy all your obligations.
Be honest to avoid future bail revocation. If the bond is revoked, the judge might issue a bench warrant. Additionally, your Clovis bail bonds agent might revoke the initial bond. To secure the release, you should sign another contract which involves paying additional fees.
Ensure you double-check the information you provide before posting your bail.
Traveling While Out on Bail
Unless your travel isn't restricted, traveling without informing your bondsman and the court can lead to problems while missing your court dates can jeopardize the case. If you have to travel, notify them on how they can reach you, your destination, and the travel duration.
Waiting to Secure the Bail
If you're arrested at night, do not wait until morning to contact a bail bond agency. Most bondsmen are available 24/7. Calling an agent ensures you do not waste a lot of time behind bars. The process of securing bail is lengthy; you might spend hours finding an indemnitor, working with the court, and filing paperwork before you are released. Your Clovis bail bonds agent will be glad to begin your release process straightaway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many people know very little about Clovis bail bonds until they or their loved one is arrested. The section below is a list of questions the skilled bail bond agents at Mr Nice Guy Bail Bonds have answered repeatedly.
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What is a Bail Schedule?
A list of figures and facts that each judge uses when determining how much a defendant should post to get a person released from detention until their court date. It gives the specific amount a person should pay concerning a particular offense.
Federal, state, or county courts determine bail amounts for different crimes. Then these amounts are put alongside the corresponding crime in a bail schedule so that judges can access typical bail amounts easily.
In most cases, the amount outlined in the bail schedule is not what the defendant pays when posting bail. With the help of an experienced legal counsel and bondsman, the judge could reduce your bail amount.
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Are Bail Bonds a Public Record?
Your arrest is a public record, and it might highlight your bail bondsman's name. However, any information you provide the agency is confidential, and the bondsman should comply with a stringent code of client confidentiality. The information can only be made public when the legal system subpoenas information from your agent as proof during your case investigations.
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Are Bail Bonds Agencies Open on Public Holidays and Weekends?
They are. Since life takes place at any time, most experienced bail bond agencies offer 24/7 services and are ready to assist suspects in getting released as fast as possible.
When it comes to whether a person can be released on the weekend, the answer is that it depends on the charges. Some crimes have a bail schedule. In this case, the bondsman will pay the amount and have you released over the weekend. However, more severe offenses might require you to face the judge before your bail amount is set, and judges do not hold hearings on holidays and weekends, so you have to wait until the next business day.
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Are Bail Bondsmen Cops?
No, they aren't. Nonetheless, the agency can arrest a defendant. When a bail bond agent pays your bail, you give away:
- your right to due process of law during your arrest, and
- your right to refuse the agent's search of any home or workplace.
The company can also impose special terms and conditions like random drug tests and curfews.
Information for Clovis Jail and Court
Clovis Police Department
1233 Fifth Street, Clovis, CA 93612
Phone: (559) 324-2800
Fresno County Superior Court
1100 Van Ness Avenue Fresno, CA 93724-0002
Phone: (559) 457-2000
Find a Qualified Bail Bond Agent Near Me
Receiving a call that a person you love has been detained or making the call yourself might be an emotional and frightening experience. At the moment, you want to have the entire bail bond to secure a release from custody. At Mr Nice Guy Bail Bonds, we understand that mistakes occur and believe that you’re innocent until proven guilty and can aggressively work to deliver a prompt release. We provide confidential bail bonds services throughout Clovis 24/7 all round the clock. Our team is also experienced and trained to handle different bail bonds and get your life back to normal. Please get in touch with us at 844-400-2245 to learn how we can help you.
