Bail is the money that a defendant pays to the court in exchange for release before trial. The bail money assures the court that the defendant will appear for all scheduled proceedings. Sometimes, judges in California set significant bail amounts that defendants cannot afford. In these cases, defendants prefer to post a surety bond.
Posting a bail bond involves contacting a surety bond company and seeking their assistance. The surety company secures the defendant's release by promising to cover the entire bail amount if the defendant flees. In exchange, you pay a non-refundable fee of 10% of your original bail. You will benefit from our expert guidance at 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds if you need a surety bond. Our Dublin bondsmen offer round-the-clock services.
Types of Bail
You could explore several types of bail to secure your or your loved one's release from detention. They include:
Own Recognizance (OR) Release
Not all defendants need to make a monetary commitment for a release before trial. Sometimes, the court can release you on your recognizance. This means that instead of posting bail, you will sign a notice promising to return for all court proceedings. However, not all defendants qualify for a release on their recognizance.
You can negotiate for this type of release under the following circumstances:
-
You are a first-time offender. The judge may view you as a low flight risk if the underlying offense is your first. The judge might grant your release without posting bail in this situation.
-
You face charges for a minor offense. If you face charges for an offense that does not carry significant punishment, you can negotiate with the court for an OR release.
Even when the court releases you without bail, a judge may impose several conditions that you must follow. A violation of the bail conditions can result in an arrest and the need to post bail.
Cash Bail
You could post cash bail for yourself or a loved one. Posting cash bail involves covering the entire amount set by the judge. When you pay this amount to a court clerk, the defendant can be released. However, judges sometimes set a high bail amount. In this case, raising the full amount upfront can be challenging.
Posting a large cash bail amount could raise suspicions and be prohibitively expensive. If the accused fails to appear in court and forfeits the bail, you risk losing the full amount.
Property Bond
In California, families and defendants can use a real estate property to secure bail. You can explore this option if you find it challenging to raise the full bail amount. In this case, you can present a property deed before a judge. The judge can put a lien on your property and remove it when your case ends. The judge will set the value of your bond property based on the original bail amount.
Before the court accepts the property bond, they schedule a hearing. You have to demonstrate the property's worth and ownership during the hearing. You should bring any documents showing property appraisals. If you wish to present a property that is jointly owned, all individuals whose names appear on the deed must appear for the property bond hearing.
Dublin Bail Bonds
Many defendants and families who cannot afford the cash bail or property bonds prefer a surety bond. Local surety companies offer bail bond services at a fee. If you need a surety bond, you can contact a Dublin bail bonds agency and request assistance. The company can send a bail bondsman to handle your case. The roles of a Dublin bail bondsman in your case include:
-
Determining bail bond eligibility. The bondsman will review the defendant's criminal history and flight risk to determine whether the defendant is eligible for bond. If you are the bail bond co-signer, the bondsman will ensure that you have the financial capacity to pay the bail bond costs.
-
Completing the paperwork. You will need to complete and sign numerous documents for the surety bond. The bail bondsman will handle these documents together with the release documents for the defendant.
-
Post bail. Your Dublin bail bondsman pledges to cover the entire bail if the accused flees.
-
Offering guidance. The bail bondsman continues to offer guidance until the case concludes.
As a fee for the services, the surety company will require you to pay up to 10% of your bail amount. You can pay this amount upfront or negotiate a payment plan. A payment plan allows defendants with insufficient funds to be released by paying only a portion of the premium. With such a plan, you can give a small down payment and pay the balance in affordable installments.
The Dublin bail bonds agency may require you to submit collateral for the bail bond before granting you access to the repayment plan. Collateral protects the company from losing its money in a bail forfeiture. If the defendant skips bail after posting bail, the bondsman hires a bounty hunter to find them and return them to court. Bounty hunters have the legal right to arrest a defendant. These professions are mostly composed of retired law enforcement officers, who have the necessary training to track defendants. If you secure a bail bond for a friend or loved one and they flee, you will shoulder the responsibility for the bounty-hunting fees. In addition, the court can issue a bench warrant for the defendant.
Jails serving Dublin, CA:
Alameda County Santa Rita Jail
5325 Broder Blvd,
Dublin, CA 94568
Courts serving Dublin, CA:
Superior Court of Alameda County
5151 Gleason Dr
Dublin, CA 94568
Find a Seasoned Dublin Bail Bonds Service Near Me
Facing arrest is a nerve-racking experience. However, you can post bail and be released while your criminal case continues. When the judge sets your bail, you could cover it with cash, property, or bail bonds. Most defendants in California opt for bail bonds because they are convenient and affordable.
When you seek a surety bond, the surety bond company will assume the financial burden of the release. As payment for the service, you will pay a service fee, which is often 10% of your bail amount. For a smooth bail experience, you should consult an experienced Dublin bail bondsman. At 24 Hour Online Bail Bonds, we provide reliable bail bonds to our clients in Dublin, CA. Contact us today at 800-930-8999 for guidance.
