Undoubtedly, awaiting your case trial date while behind bars is not an option. Most defendants arrested for non-violent or non-severe offenses can secure their freedom to return home and move on with daily life once they deposit a specific set or predetermined amount of money (bail) with the court.
This deposit or bail will ensure the defendant's availability in court to challenge the allegations he/she is up against once he/she secures his/her freedom. When you fail to return to court as required, the court will forfeit your bail, meaning you will not receive your refundable money back.
To avoid putting your money at risk for your freedom upon an arrest, you should consider working with a bail bondsman to obtain a pretrial release on bond. At Bail Bonds, we can help post the often unaffordable bail price for your charge to secure your freedom without delay.
We understand every minute in jail feels like hours, and we will do our best to provide you with the quick Point Mugu NAWC bail bonds you require to receive your freedom without unnecessary delay.
Tips That Can Increase Your Odds of Obtaining a Pretrial Release on Bail
Unfortunately, not every arrestee is an excellent candidate for a pretrial release on bail. If the charge you are up against is serious, it is natural to worry about your eligibility for release from the detention facility on bond. Below are tips that increase your odds of securing a pretrial release from the detention facility on bond upon an arrest:
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Show That You Have Strong Ties With the Community
You can increase your chances of obtaining a pretrial release on bond if you can prove to the court that you have strong ties with your community. Examples of these kinds of ties include:
- Family ties.
- Steady employment.
- Involvement in local community organizations.
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Hire a Dependable Defense Criminal Attorney
You will need the services of an attorney through every stage of the prosecution process, including the bail hearing. During this court proceeding, your attorney can provide evidence to help convince the court that you are an excellent candidate for release from jail on bond.
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Provide Proof to Show You Have Reliable Employment
Providing adequate evidence to prove to the court that you have reliable and steady employment can reflect positively on your charge, convincing the judge that you are a responsible and trustworthy individual.
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Present Your Character References to the Court
The court could grant your bail request if you have letters from reliable and respectable people, like community and religious leaders, attesting to your moral character.
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Show Your Willingness and Preparedness to Follow the Pretrial Release Guidelines
If you are granted bail and are released from custody, the judge will impose strict conditions on you. Some of these conditions include:
- Attend all your scheduled court proceedings.
- Stay crime-free.
- Agree to stay away from the protected individual if your offense involves threats or is domestic violence-related.
If you or your defense attorney can prove you are willing to comply with these conditions, the judge will likely award you a pretrial release on bail.
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Be Cooperative and Honest
Your behavior in court can also affect your eligibility for release from jail on bail. If you are cooperative and honest in court, you will likely qualify for a pretrial release on bail.
While these mitigating arguments could increase your odds of qualifying for a pretrial release from jail after an arrest, certain offenses will make you ineligible for bail, including:
- Drug-related charges that involve manufacturing or trafficking of illegal drugs.
- First-degree murder.
- Mayhem.
- Capital crimes like terrorism and treason.
- Felony sexual assault offenses, like sexual battery.
If you are under arrest as a culprit in either of these offenses, you will remain in the detention facility until your case is over.
Understanding How the Bail Bond Business Works
If you do not have sufficient funds or equivalent property to post as bail, you can obtain Point Mugu NAWC bail bonds. Generally speaking, once you call a bail bondsman while in police custody after an arrest for any crime, he/she can help you post a bond with the court presiding over your case for the total amount of your bail.
Then, the bondsman will charge you a certain non-refundable amount in exchange for the prompt Point Mugu NAWC bail bonds he/she will offer you to obtain a quick release from the detention facility. Before the court agrees to release you from the detention facility, the bondsman must sign a contract agreeing to pay your full bail price when you fail to appear in court as the legal proceedings require.
Since the bondsman is legally obligated to ensure your availability during the court hearings to challenge your charges, you should expect him/her to contact you often after your release to find out your whereabouts.
When you fail or forget to make your scheduled court appearances as expected, the judge will forfeit your bail, meaning the bondsman must deposit your total bail price with the court's clerk. If you had to surrender collateral to obtain Point Mugu NAWC bail bonds, the bondsman would seize it and sell it to recover their money.
The Role of Bounty Hunters in the Bail Bond Business
When you jump bail after receiving a release from the detention facility, the police and bounty hunter(s) will begin looking for you. The court will issue the police an arrest warrant, authorizing them to arrest and detain you because it is unlawful under Penal Code 1320.5 to fail or refuse to make your court appearances after posting bail.
On the other hand, the bondsman will hire bounty hunters to track you down and surrender you to the police to avoid losing their money to the court. If the bounty hunting mission is successful, the bounty hunter will receive a certain percentage of your bond amount.
However, it is worth noting that not every person can qualify for the bounty hunting job. Below are the legal requirements you must satisfy to become a bounty hunter:
- Have a clean criminal history.
- Be registered with the law enforcement authorities in the area.
- Be eighteen (18) years old and above.
- Be ready to provide character references.
Since they are motivated to claim their services fee, sometimes bounty hunters could use excessive force and violence when surrendering you to the police, leading to unnecessary injuries. When that happens, you can sue them with the help of an attorney to secure compensatory damages for your injuries and losses associated with these injuries.
Defenses Your Attorney Can Raise to Challenge the Bail Jumping Offense
When the bounty hunter or police arrest you after you have jumped bail, they will detain you, awaiting the court's decision on this violation. If your lawyer can demonstrate that you did not intentionally jump bail or that an unforeseen circumstance prevented you from making your court appearance, you might be able to win the case.
For instance, your defense attorney can argue that you were involved in a car accident or hospitalized, affecting your ability to make scheduled court appearances. If this defense works in your favor, the court will drop your case and do the following:
- Reinstate the pretrial release on the same conditions.
- Reinstate the pretrial release on modified conditions.
Other defenses your attorney can use to challenge the bail jumping offense under Penal Code 1320.5 include:
- You are a victim of false accusation.
- You had no intent to avoid criminal prosecution for your offense.
Aside from the possible legal consequences of a Penal Code 1320.5 conviction, jumping bail could negatively affect your eligibility for bail in the future. Therefore, retaining the services of an attorney if you are under arrest or charged with a PC 1320.5 violation is crucial. Your attorney could help convince the court to drop or reduce your charges.
Alternatives to a Bail Bond
If you are in the detention facility because of a bail you can afford, you can request a bail reduction during your bail hearing. The bail hearing gives you, the defendant, an opportunity to ask for the following:
- Bail reduction.
- Own recognizance (O.R. pretrial release).
When granted an O.R. pretrial release, you will go free without posting bail. However, you should be ready to sign an agreement to appear in all court proceedings to challenge the allegations you are up against.
The legal justice system gives the judge a lot of discretion in setting bail, but he/she must consider some factors before deciding the bail amount you should pay. Some of these factors include:
- The seriousness and sophistication of your charges.
- Your financial ability to pay.
- Public safety.
- Your criminal background.
- Chances that you could refuse to return on your next court dates.
Common Conditions of Pretrial Release on Bond
While you are out of legal custody, the judge will require you to comply with certain strict conditions. Examples of these conditions include:
Do Not Commit a New Offense
The court expects you to stay crime-free once you obtain a pretrial release on bond. If you are arrested or charged with a new crime while out on bail, the court will likely revoke your bail.
Stay Away From Protected Individuals
If you are under arrest for a sex crime or domestic violence-related offense, the court will likely issue a stay-away order as a requirement for your pretrial release. That means you must stay away from or avoid contacting or texting the protected individuals.
Agree to Random Drug Testing
If your criminal charge involves drug abuse, the court will order random drug testing, which you must consent to while you are out of jail on bond. Dirty or missed drug tests can make the court revoke your bail.
Agree to Home Detention
Sometimes, the court could order home arrest or detention as part of your pretrial release condition. That means you will have a curfew to comply with and can only leave your home for certain reasons, such as:
- Medical appointments.
- School.
- Work.
- Attorney visits.
Stay Alcohol-Free
For drunk driving cases, the court will prohibit you from taking alcohol or going to bars while you are out of legal custody on bond.
Seek Mental Health Treatment
If the judge suspects that mental health issues contributed to the alleged offense, he/she could require you to undergo mental health treatment once you obtain your pretrial release on bond.
Agree to Weekly Check-ins With a Pretrial Officer
The court will require you to check in with a pretrial officer at least once a week or twice each month to ensure compliance with the set conditions of your pretrial release.
Agree to Wear GPS Tracker
If you are an alien, the judge will consider you a flight risk. That means you could flee to your home country after obtaining your freedom. In that case, the judge will require you to wear a GPS tracker to help the pretrial officer know your whereabouts once you are out of legal custody on bail.
Refrain from Purchasing or Using Weapons
For domestic violence-related cases or charges involving the use of a gun, the court will require you to refrain from buying or carrying a firearm once you obtain your freedom on bail.
Court Proceedings to Expect After Your Pretrial Release on Bond
One of the critical conditions you should never violate after your pretrial release is failing to appear in court on the scheduled hearing dates. Explained below are the court proceedings you should expect after your pretrial release on bond:
Pretrial Hearing
Also known as a pretrial conference, the pretrial hearing is a crucial stage of the legal justice system. During this court proceeding, the prosecution team and your defense attorney will meet before a judge to exchange their evidence and determine whether your case can stand trial.
Your attorney can also file a range of motions during the pretrial hearing, asking the judge to make a pretrial ruling. Examples of these motions include:
- Motion to suppress.
- Motion to dismiss.
- Speedy trial motion.
- A Pitchess motion.
The primary purpose of a pretrial conference is to ensure that the prosecutor and your attorney have a chance to discuss and negotiate favorable plea deals.
Since most criminal cases resolve and end at this stage of the prosecution process, every attorney will strive to make the most out of this process. An attorney with a solid relationship with local judges and prosecutors can increase your chances of obtaining a favorable plea deal.
Trial Hearing
Whether your offense is a felony or misdemeanor, you can choose to have a judge or jury determine the outcome of your charge. Unlike a bench trial, where one judge decides the outcome of your case, in a jury trial, you should expect twelve jurors selected randomly from the local community. Whether you opt for a jury trial or bench trial, the trial hearing must follow the following stages:
- Opening remarks.
- Presentation of available evidence and eyewitness testimonies.
- Closing remarks.
- Jury instructions.
- Jury Deliberation and Verdict Announcement.
The prosecutor and your attorney are legally responsible for proving their cases beyond a reasonable doubt throughout the trial. If your attorney presents clear and convincing evidence and arguments, the court could drop or reduce the charges against you to a less serious offense.
However, if your attorney's evidence is insufficient, the court will convict you of the alleged criminal charge.
Sentencing Hearing
The court could decide your sentence immediately after the trial hearing for a misdemeanor offense conviction. However, if your offense is a felony, the court must schedule your hearing date within twenty days. During the sentencing hearing, you have a legal right to:
- Attend the proceeding.
- Be presented by a defense attorney.
- Present eyewitnesses and mitigate arguments that can reduce the severity of your penalties.
- Suggest an alternative sentencing option, like probation.
When determining an appropriate sentence for your charge conviction, the judge will consider various factors, including your criminal record, the severity of your charges, and your attorney's mitigating arguments.
Courthouses and Detention Facilities Addresses You Ought to Know When Looking for Point Mugu NAWC Bail Bonds
If you want to obtain bail bond services for a loved one upon an arrest, you could require the following courthouses and detention facilities location details:
Courthouse Location Details
Ventura County Superior Court
800 S Victoria Street
Ventura, CA 93009
Jail Location Details
Ventura County Sheriff
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
Find a Point Mugu NAWC Bail Bonds Company Near Me
Obtaining your freedom on bond upon an arrest can save you the stress of posting often unaffordable bail. Our reliable bail bondsmen at Bail Bonds are here for you if you need Point Mugu NAWC bail bonds. We invite you to call us at 323-579-1415 to schedule an appointment.
We are available 24/7 to ensure you do not have to spend more minutes or hours behind bars as your case continues.
