Nobody wishes for arrest or detention in California, but life happens, and you could find yourself behind bars. The most common method arrestees use to obtain a pretrial discharge pending trial is bail or surety bond. It is easy and convenient, but before you speak to a bondsman, you must ask yourself, "How much are the bail bond rates, and what fees should you consider?”

Considering how stressful it is to be in jail, you could be desperate for freedom, thus making hasty financial decisions that could be detrimental to your future finances. Therefore, you should understand surety bond pricing and find an affordable agreement that will not cause financial distress after a pretrial discharge.

Bail Bond Definition

Before delving into bail bond pricing, it is essential to understand its definition. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) defines bail or surety bonds as funds bondsmen deposit with the court to secure an arrestee's discharge from custody while the case is ongoing. A San Jacinto bail bonds service acts as a third party and offers the financial support you, the defendant, need to regain freedom but cannot afford.

Bail Bond vs Posting Bail

You must wait thirty days before trial when apprehended for an offense in San Jacinto. However, before the date, the court allows you to post bail instead of unnecessary detention when the court has yet to determine whether you are innocent or guilty.

Posting bail happens when the court sets the figure you should pay to secure your pretrial discharge. The release lets you reunite with your family and continue with your work while preparing to defend against the allegations with the help of a defense attorney. The funds you post are not a fine or punishment. They guarantee your release. Therefore, when you adhere to all court requirements and the trial ends, your funds will be returned minus the court fees. Sadly, the court typically sets bail so high that many defendants cannot afford the funds upfront.

Therefore, bail is different from bail bond because you must find the money yourself or with the help of family members. Also, after release, you are responsible for court appearances because your money is on the line, and skipping court means forfeiting the funds. On the other hand, a bail bond is when you partner with a San Jacinto bail bonds service to assume the financial responsibility of bail, but at a fee.

Partnering with a bondsman is beneficial because you only have to raise a fraction of the total bail to exit jail. Your San Jacinto bail bonds service pays the remaining amount. The funds you pay upfront are a service fee and are not refundable. Despite this, a surety bond is advantageous because you will direct the funds you could have used to post bail to investments or hire an attorney to prepare for the case and prevent a conviction.

Cost of Bail Bond

The most efficient way to regain freedom while awaiting court hearings and the trial is through a bail or surety bond, mainly if your socio-economic status does not allow you to raise the money. Despite being effective, you must understand the surety bond rates before signing an agreement.

California sets the bond premium at 10% of the bail sum. Your bail bond service must use this calculator to assess the fees for their bonding services. Therefore, instead of setting constant costs, the price you pay for the services depends on the bail sum determined by the court. You should be wary if the bondsman you are considering sets their rates above or below the stipulated 10%.

Understanding the Cost of Bailing an Individual Out of Jail

The cost of obtaining a pretrial release from custody while awaiting trial varies based on your case’s nature. The amount you pay is provided for in the bail schedule. The arresting officer can release you early by determining bail using the bail schedule. However, in severe cases, you must appear before a judge in the arraignment proceeding for bail determination. Here, the judge can increase or reduce the figure provided in the schedule, but within the law.

Bail can be six figures, and only a few arrestees can afford it. Even if you have the money, paying massive amounts in cash bail can prompt the court to put your bail on hold until an investigation is conducted to establish the source of the funds, which can translate into an extended stay in jail. Therefore, many arrestees prefer using a surety bond company where they only pay the premium fee.

For instance, when the court sets bail at $350,000, the bail bond service will cost you $35,000. It would be best to understand that the premium is a one-time fee. While you will not obtain a refund when the case closes, whether you are convicted or not, your money will not lay in court without generating interest or depreciating because of court fees, like when you post cash bail.

Also, your San Jacinto bail bonds should provide a detailed quotation with no hidden charges. If the fee is $35,000, the bondsman should not charge annual renewal fees because they will make bail expensive if your trial continues for years.

You must understand that some companies will require collateral on top of the premium fee. Collateral can be in the form of personal items, assets, or real property that you own, and it helps guarantee the total bail the bondsman deposits for you if you decide to skip bail. The collateral secures your San Jacinto bail bonds so that when you miss court, they can seize and auction them to compensate for the funds they have forfeited.

Factors Affecting Bail Determination

Knowing the bail percentage your bondsman charges for the surety bond can help you contextualize the funds you need to regain freedom after bail is set. Usually, bail is determined after booking by the arresting officer using the bail schedule or when you are presented in court. The factors that affect the figure you will pay are:

Your Criminal History

When you have no arrest or conviction history, the court will lower your bail than a defendant with a criminal record. Nonetheless, a record does not mean the judge will impose a hefty bail. They will consider the severity of these past offenses and whether you were convicted. Also, if you have a pending warrant outside California or are on parole for another crime, the court will likely deny you bail.

Community Ties

An individual with solid community roots, like a family residing in San Jacinto, a member of a community organization, or investments in the community, is a low-flight risk because they would lose a lot if they skipped bail. However, an individual without community connections will likely flee town after release; hence, the court can set an expensive bail or deny it entirely.

Threat to Public Safety

Another critical factor in determining bail is your risk to public safety, the victims of your crime, or witnesses. If the judge is convinced you are a threat to the public, they will impose a significant bail or deny it. Crimes that can make the court deem you a danger to the public include sexual violence.

History of Court Appearances

Bail assures the court that you will be present when the judge instructs. If you have skipped court before while out on bail, there is no reason you will not repeat the same mistakes, and this can make the court impose hefty bail or deny you this right.

Additionally, a tendency to skip court will affect your San Jacinto bail bonds because your bondsman will send a bounty hunter to arrest you. Once you are presented in court, they will cancel their surety bond, and you will have to find another company for the bonding services. Besides, if you have deposited cash bail, skipping court means you will lose the money.

Reasons California Bail is Exorbitant

Today, some jurisdictions are using bail-setting algorithms to determine bail. These changes aim to end what has favored the affluent and disadvantaged people experiencing poverty. Despite the adjustments, paying bail remains a problem for many defendants. Many arrestees find it challenging to pay bail because they cannot access money from the inside and do not have someone on the outside to pay their bail. Others lack the funds to deposit or cannot have their cash lying around in an account for months or years without generating interest.

Courts set exorbitant bail to deter arrestees deemed flight-risk from skipping town. When you deposit hefty amounts in court, you will not be willing to risk forfeiting the funds by skipping court. You will show up.

If you lack the funds necessary to obtain freedom, you can stay behind bars until the case ends. Alternatively, you can talk to a bondsman for surety bond services. Nevertheless, just because the bondsman assumes your financial burden does not mean you can jump bail. If you try running away, the company will send a bounty hunter to arrest you because they could forfeit the entire bail deposited for you. Therefore, you must treat the money the bondsman pays for you as yours for the surety bond contract to remain beneficial to all parties.

Additional Costs

The law is precise that you should pay a 10% fee for San Jacinto bail bond services. However, some bondsmen introduce additional payments on top of the premium. These costs include administrative expenses. These can make your pretrial discharge costly and cause financial strain. Therefore, as much as you want to exit police custody as soon as possible, you should research the bondsmen you are considering partnering with and analyze their contracts before signing.

Most bail bonds are genuine, but a few of them are scams. Continually evaluate the contract because some will offer discounted rates of even 7% only to introduce hidden charges like administrative fees and annual renewal charges that make surety bonds expensive.

Others will charge rates higher than the 10% the law provides, claiming to have connections in court. Steer clear of these individuals because they are not genuine. Please do your homework on the companies you want to partner with for the pretrial discharge and ensure the CDI licenses them. Also, avoiding unsolicited ads or calls from bondsmen guaranteeing release or the lowest premium rates in the market would be best. By being vigilant, you can prevent scammers who could otherwise extend your stay in jail. Again, you streamline the release process.

San Jacinto Bail Bond Financing

The 10% premium fee that your San Jacinto bail bonds service charges can sound like a small amount. However, for some individuals, consolidating the funds can cause financial distress. Luckily, when you partner with the right bondsman, you will navigate the process smoothly and have peace of mind after regaining freedom.

Not being able to raise the premium fee should not be why you remain in jail until trial. Talk to your bondsman about the money you have so that they can craft a flexible repayment plan based on your financial situation. If your bondsman offers a repayment plan, review it carefully and understand the payment plan and conditions. With a flexible repayment plan, you can secure your freedom or that of a loved one even in a financial crisis.

With a repayment plan, you only need to deposit the money you have, and you will pay the remainder in biweekly or monthly installments once you are free.

You must know that when using a financing plan, the bondsman will check your credit score. The company will require some collateral when large amounts are involved, but this rarely happens. Flexible repayment plans and knowledge of the bail process will ensure you exit jail as soon as possible at the best rates.

Moreover, you should find a bondsman that offers various discounts, including:

  • Military discounts.
  • Teacher discounts.
  • Union members discounts.

The discounts will help lower the cost of your surety bond.

Find a Bail Bondsman Near Me

The California surety bond process is complex and overwhelming, mainly if it is your first arrest. It would be best to have someone streamline the procedure and make it affordable. At Fausto Bail Bonds, we have reliable bail bondsmen who will guide you through the process, explain the costs, and develop payment plans that suit your financial needs for an efficient release in San Jacinto. Call us today at 855-328-7867 to start the release process.