When someone close to you is arrested in Palm Springs, understanding the legal process quickly can help minimize their stay in jail. A lot is at risk if they remain locked up before trial, including their job and family. After their booking and detention, you can bail them out so that they can attend their trial from home. Bailing them out means you must pay their full bail to the court to process their release. It is challenging to navigate this process if you lack the financial ability to help a loved one out of jail. But a reliable bail bond company can help.
Bail bond companies are trustworthy and reliable. They also act swiftly to reduce the time your loved one will remain incarcerated. Thus, consider Palm Springs bail bonds if you need help after your loved one’s arrest.
How Your Loved One’s Bail is Set
Typically, bail is the money you pay the court to assure your loved one will make all court appearances regarding their case. The police cannot hold a suspected offender for more than 48 hours after an arrest unless there is a court order. All suspects are presumed not guilty until a jury trial finds them guilty at the end of their case. Holding them in jail before trial is a violation of their rights. Bail releases also reduce the burden on taxpayers since it can be costly for the state to lock up everyone who violates the law.
California courts determine bail according to a defendant’s case details and criminal history. Bail for a misdemeanor offense is usually less than a felony offense. Your bail will be higher if your case has aggravating factors, like a death or serious bodily injury, or if the victim is a minor, an older adult, or a dependent person. Judges are usually a little lenient on first-time offenders. The judge can order your release on personal recognizance if you are a first-time offender facing simple misdemeanor charges. However, the judge can set your bail high if you are a repeat or habitual offender.
Bail is generally expensive, even for a simple misdemeanor. Remember that it is required to guarantee your court appearances. The amount will only serve its purpose if the courts set it high. Many families cannot afford to bail their loved ones out after an arrest. Fortunately, you can rely on Palm Springs bail bonds for a quick and timely release of your loved one from jail after their arrest, regardless of their case details. A bail bond company will start the bail process immediately after you contact them. They can ensure your loved one is back home within hours of arrest.
The Cost of Bail Bonds
Bail bond companies are third-party companies that help families obtain their loved one’s pretrial release after an arrest. They are in business, which means that they operate for profits. You will be expected to pay a fee for Palm Springs bail bonds once you engage the help of a bondsman to secure your loved one’s release. California's standard rate for bail bonds is 10% of the total bail. If a judge sets your loved one’s bail at $20,000, prepare yourself to pay a maximum of $2000 to secure their pretrial release. Most bail bond companies stick to that rate, but some offer a lower rate.
Once you find a bail bondsman to help you with your loved one’s situation, the company will expect you to pay a premium for the bail bonds service. The premium is usually a 10% fee. Most companies expect you to pay the premium upfront so that the company can quickly process your loved one’s release from jail. However, reliable companies are willing to negotiate for flexible payments if you are not financially able to pay the total amount upfront. It is necessary to discuss these issues beforehand to reduce the time your loved one must remain in jail after an arrest.
Once you pay the premium, the bail bondsman will give a surety bond to the court on your behalf, promising to pay your loved one’s full bail if the court forfeits their bail. Bail forfeiture is likely if the defendant fails to appear. It means that the court retains the defendant’s total bail. In that case, the bail bond company, which gave a surety bond to the court, will be required to pay your loved one full bail. The company will suffer a significant financial loss if their bail is high. Thus, the bail bondsman will require you to cover that cost and any other cost it has incurred in the process.
The 10% rate for bail bonds is reasonable, considering how expensive bail is. The only problem is that the premium is usually non-refundable. It covers the fee for the bail bonds. Remember that bail bondsmen are businessmen. They charge a fee for their services. If you cannot raise your loved one’s full bail, they can help. But you must be willing to pay the cost. However, a lot is at stake if your loved one remains in jail for a long time. Their family can suffer, and they can lose their job. That is why the 10% fee is worth the cost.
Palm Springs Bail Bonds at a Lower Cost
Remember that the 10% rate is only California's standard rate for bail bonds, not a fixed rate for all bail bonds. Some companies offer a lower rate than that. Most bail bondsmen will state a 10% rate to make a good profit out of their business. However, you can negotiate a lower rate to reduce the overall cost of the bail bond service.
However, you have to convince the company of your loved one’s readiness and willingness to stand trial for the company to lower that rate. Remember that bail bondsmen offer an assurance to the court to pay a defendant’s bail if they fail to appear. The company will incur a significant loss if your loved one fails to honor the end of their bargain. If your loved one has a stable job, family, and other strong ties to the community, you can use that information to negotiate a lower rate with the bail bondsman.
A defendant with solid community ties will least likely flee after being released on bail. If they remain within the court’s jurisdiction, the defendant can make all court appearances regarding their case without fail. Then, the bail bondsman will not have to pay the full bail to the court for the defendant’s failure to appear.
Additionally, it could be easier for you to negotiate for a lower bail bond fee if your loved one is facing simple misdemeanor charges. Everyone in the criminal justice system, including bail bond companies, will likely be lenient with a lenient offender. If your loved one’s chances of a conviction are low, they will likely be more eager to clear their name. Thus, the bail bondsman will not incur additional charges, especially related to a bail forfeiture. However, if a defendant faces grave charges and is uncertain of their case outcome, they can quickly flee after a bail release. That will leave the bail bondsman to incur additional charges after bail forfeiture.
Additional Requirements for Palm Springs Bail Bonds
In most cases, a written agreement to make all court appearances after bail release is usually insufficient to obtain bail bonds. Remember that bail bondsmen help all kinds of defendants obtain bail releases. Some defendants will promise to honor their court dates but change their minds. That leaves bail bondsmen counting significant financial losses after paying the court the agreed amounts. Bail bondsmen take additional measures to protect themselves from such losses.
For example, your chosen bail bondsman could ask you to become your loved one’s so-signor. As their co-signor, you will agree to take responsibility if your loved one fails to appear and the court forfeits their bail. You must demonstrate a financial ability to pay the full bail when that happens so the bail bondsman can sign the agreement with you. If your loved one fails to appear or violates their bail in any other way, and the court forfeits it, you will pay their full bail, not the bail bondsman. That way, the bail bondsman will not incur a financial loss.
As a co-signor, you must follow up with your loved one after their bail release to ensure they honor all court dates. You will also offer support and advice to ensure their case moves smoothly. If all goes well, the bail bondsman will relieve you of that responsibility after the conclusion of your loved one’s case.
Additionally, Palm Springs bail bondsmen ask for collateral when helping defendants post bail for their pretrial release. Collateral is anything of value that the bondsman can hold for a while before your loved one’s case concludes. However, the collateral’s value must be greater than the bail amount. It should also be something the bail bondsman can sell to recover from its losses if the court forfeits your loved one’s bail.
Fortunately, bail bondsmen accept various assets or valuables as collateral. For example, you can use your vehicle, home, or real-estate property to guarantee your loved one’s bail. You can also use anything of value that the defendant owns as collateral. Ensure that you know and can demonstrate its current market value to ensure that it meets the bail bondsman’s requirements. Some bail bondsmen accept other valuables, like art collections and jewelry, as collateral.
Regardless of the outcome, you will receive the collateral back at the end of your loved one’s case. However, you could lose it if the defendants violate their bail and the court forfeits it. If the latter happens, the bail bondsman will liquidate the collateral to recover the money they paid to the court after bail forfeiture. You or your family will incur a significant loss, not the bail bondsman.
The Benefits of Paying The Bail Bonds Cost
A bail bonds service can be expensive if your loved one’s bail is expensive. Typically, bail is costly for everyone, regardless of their case details. However, your loved one and family stand to lose a lot more if the defendant remains in jail for a longer time. Remember that criminal cases are not heard and determined on the same day of the arrest. The prosecution and defense teams need time to prepare their evidence and statements. It could take several days, weeks, and sometimes months for your loved one’s case to end. That is a long time to remain incarcerated.
Remember that within that period, your loved one will be unable to work and care for their family. They will also be separated from you and the other members of your family. If the defendant has dependents, they could suffer for lack of support. The defendant can lose their job or business, and the entire family will suffer significantly. Thus, the cost of bail bonds could be less than what you and the defendant can lose from a long time of incarceration.
Additionally, the cost of bail bonds covers a speedy release from jail. Although the defendant has other options to obtain a bail release, like cash bail and property bond, it takes bail bond companies a relatively shorter time to release a defendant’s release. These companies are familiar with all court and jail processes. They are also well prepared with everything the court needs to release your loved one. Your preferred bondsman can ensure your loved one returns home within hours of arrest.
Jail Information
Palm Springs Jail
Court Information
Superior Court of California, County of Riverside
3255 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs,
Find an Affordable Bail Bonds Service Near Me
Bail bondsmen play a significant role for defendants and families who cannot afford to post cash bail to obtain a release after an arrest. However, bail bonds have a standard rate of 10%, meaning that you must pay the bail bondsman at least 10% of the bail to process your loved one’s release. While the cost is high, especially if your loved one’s bail is high, our service at Fausto Bail Bonds comes with great benefits, including reliability, timeliness, and professionalism. We also walk with your loved one after release to ensure they honor all their court dates. Call us at 855-328-7867 for more information about our bail bond fee and rate.