The bail system in Santa Rosa Valley enables arrestees to stay out of custody, giving them ample time to plan for trial. Most defendants facing misdemeanor and felony charges in Santa Rosa Valley are eligible for release on bail. With the right Santa Rosa Valley bail bondsman, the process of posting a bail bond is straightforward and cost-effective. If you or your loved one is in custody, you should contact a bonds company to post bail for you.
At Bail Bonds, we offer convenient bail bond services and easy payment options, making the bail-posting process as stress-free as possible. We also provide confidential and professional services. When you choose us, we will safeguard your personal information and keep your arrest details discrete. Our bondsmen are available at all times because we understand that an arrest can happen anytime, at night or on weekends.
How Bail Bond Works In Santa Rosa Valley
When the judge sets the bail figure, you can post it in cash or through a Santa Rosa Valley bail bondsman. If the bail figure is too high to afford, you should contact a bail company to help you secure your release from custody.
Your bail bondsman will require you or your co-signer to pay a premium before posting bail. The premium is usually ten percent of the entire bail amount. The bail bondsman agrees to pay the whole amount if you fail to attend court hearings. The ten percent premium is non-refundable even if the judge dismisses your case or you attend all your court hearings. Some bail bond companies can also request that you provide collateral.
Typically, a bondsman guarantees to pay the bail figure if you fail to attend court proceedings. If you fail to attend court as required, the bondsman could lose the money they guaranteed to the court. When you skip bail, your bondsman can come after you or your co-signer to recover the money. The bondsman could also sell the collateral you provided to recover the bail money. Bail bond collateral could be anything of value, like a business, jewelry, house, or car.
The Process Of Securing A Bail Bond
You or your co-signer could call a bondsman for help once the judge has set bail. The bondsman will require basic information, including:
- Where you are being detained.
- How long you have been detained.
- The charges you are facing.
- If you are employed.
The bondsman can require you or your co-signer to answer additional standard questions. You can provide this information over the phone or in person. After you provide the required information, the bondsman will assess the risk involved.
Once satisfied, the bondsman will draft a contract. Your co-signer will sign the contract and pay the premium. Then, once the bail paperwork is completed, the bondsman will come to meet you where you are detained. Finally, the bondsman will post the bail, and you will be released from custody.
If you make all the court appearances as scheduled until your case is resolved, the bail money will be returned to the person who posted it. However, if you fail to appear or flee the jurisdiction, the court will keep the bail money and issue a bench warrant for your arrest.
The criteria used to determine whether an arrestee qualifies for release on bail are similar for all types of offenses, whether at the state or federal level. However, the applicable bail bond premiums could vary. For example, appeal bail bonds often attract a premium of 20%.
Ways of Paying Bail In Santa Rosa Valley
You can post bail in the following ways in Ventura County:
Cash Bail
You, your family, or your friend can post cash or write a check for the required bail amount. This method of paying bail is called cash bail. It is the most straightforward and quickest method of paying bail. However, the bail figure is often so high that most arrestees have no readily available money to post bail. Therefore, cash bail is not a popular way of paying bail.
Property Bail
You can secure your release by putting up a property. This is commonly referred to as property bail. In this case, you give the court a lien on your asset for the bail figure. If you fail to attend court proceedings, the judge can initiate foreclosure proceedings on the asset to satisfy the lien. The procedure for putting up assets for bail is time-consuming. This form of paying bail is also not popular.
Bail Bond
You can contact a Santa Rosa Valley bail bondsman to have them post bail for you. A bail bond is also referred to as a surety bond. This is a popular method of paying bail. It is quick and cheaper, and you do not need to have all the cash upfront to cover the bail figure.
Own Recognizance Release
With this option of paying bail, you will not deposit money or property with the court. Instead, you make a written commitment to attend all the court hearings. The court grants its own recognizance release to people with no criminal record or people with strong ties to the community.
What You Should Expect After An Arrest
When the police arrest you in Santa Rosa Valley, they will take you to a local detention facility or jail for booking. It could be a Santa Rosa Valley detention facility or any other nearby police station. The booking process typically involves the following:
- Recording your name, address, and contact information.
- Fingerprinting.
- Background check.
- Checking for outstanding warrants.
- Feeding your details into the computer system.
The booking process could take one hour or less if the detention facility is not crowded. If the jail is crowded, the process could last several hours.
The next action after booking involves setting bail. Bail is the money or asset you post with the court before being released from the holding facility or jail. The court will set the bail at a figure that warrants that you attend court proceedings. Posting bail is the same as depositing security. If you show up in court when required, the bail will be refunded. Your court could keep the money if you fail to attend the court-set hearings.
It is at the discretion of the judge to release you on bail. The judge could have the following options:
- Release you on your own recognizance.
- Set bail.
- Deny you bail.
Release on your own recognizance does not involve posting bail. In this case, you will just sign a written citation committing yourself to show up for court dates when needed. However, if the judge refuses to set bail, you will have to remain in jail until the court resolves your case.
Some of the criminal offenses for which you could be denied bail in Santa Rosa Valley are those whose penalty is death, like capital murder. The judge could also deny you bail because of the following reasons:
- You committed a felony offense, and the facts are clear.
- You threatened someone else with significant bodily injury.
- There is a high chance you will fulfill your threat if you are released on bail.
The other reasons that could trigger bail denial include the following:
- Felony sexual assault charge.
- Convincing evidence indicates that there is a significant chance your release could lead to substantial bodily harm to other people.
- Felony cases that involve violent acts against the victim.
The current California laws make it unconstitutional for the judge to retain you in custody because you cannot afford bail. The prosecutor must provide clear and convincing evidence showing that bail denial is crucial for public safety. The judge must consider your ability to pay before setting bail. You must be freed even if you cannot afford bail unless it is deemed a security risk. The judge will consider the following factors when denying, setting, or reducing a bail amount:
- Whether you have any prior failure to appear in history.
- The danger you pose to the public.
- The severity of your crime.
- Your previous criminal record.
- If you are a flight risk.
How The Judge Determines The Amount Of Bail
Every county in California has its own bail schedule that judges can use to set bail amounts. Santa Rosa Valley judges use the Ventura County bail schedule. The judge could impose a similar amount as indicated on the bail schedule or set it at a higher or lower amount depending on the following circumstances:
- The severity of the alleged crime.
- If you are a flight risk.
- Your criminal record.
Recommendations by law enforcement or counsel can trigger a bail hearing where your attorney can negotiate for a lower bail amount or your own recognizance release.
Bail Bond Collateral
When you post bail, you commit yourself to court hearings as required. Your Santa Rosa Valley bail bondsman can offer you a secured or unsecured bail bondsman. A secured bail could be fully or partially secured with certain items, including the following:
- Cash, for example, cash in fixed deposit accounts.
- Real estate property.
- Automobiles.
- Stock notes, or
- Deeds to bonds.
You and your co-signer must consent in writing to pay the entire bail amount if the bail is unsecured.
How to Deal With Bail Bond Companies
Just like any other industry, you should avoid certain bail bond companies. Some bail bond companies are only interested in having your money. Not only do some bail bond businesses operate unlawfully, but they could also be deceptive. Always ensure the bail bond company you are working with is licensed. You could check if the bail bond company is licensed through the California Department of Insurance.
You should be cautious about bondsmen waiting at jails or detention facilities or those who solicit your family and friends. Preferably, you should work with a bondsman with a good reputation and proven reliability. Hiring an attorney before securing the services of a bondsman will often ensure you are dealing with a legitimate company that will save you a lot of money.
Make sure you read and understand the agreement you or your co-signer are signing. It should be a transparent document that clearly discloses the amount of money you should pay to the bondsman. There should be no additional or hidden charges.
Ask the bondsman if any clause in the contract you are signing is unclear. Clear and open communication is the key to a successful relationship. If you know what to look out for, you will avoid the risks of a shady bail bond company. You can walk away if you feel uncomfortable interacting with a Santa Rosa Valley bail bondsman.
Bail On Appeal
It is possible to remain out of custody while you appeal your case. The court could grant you bail after you have been convicted, as long as the conviction is not for an offense punishable by death. Posting bail on appeal allows you to remain out of jail, much like being released on bail in your original criminal court proceedings.
In most cases, the appellate judge considers various factors when determining the amount of bail to impose. Some of the factors include:
- If you are filing your appeal for delay purposes.
- Whether your appeal will lead to a reversal of your charges.
- If you are a flight risk.
- If you are a threat to the community and the victim.
The court will keep the bail figure if you fail to show up in court or surrender to the authorities. The trial and appellate courts can grant bail on appeal.
When You Skip Bail In Santa Rosa Valley
If you fail to attend the court hearings, your Santa Rosa Valley bail bondsman can hire a bounty hunter to track you down. Sometimes, you can skip bail due to unavoidable circumstances like an illness or other emergency. In this case, you should notify your bondsman as soon as possible.
A Bounty Hunter
A bounty hunter is a skilled professional a bondsman hires to find and capture an arrestee released on bail who fails to attend court dates. The bounty hunter does this in exchange for a monetary reward. The reward for a bounty hunter, considered the ''bounty,'' is usually a percentage of the bail. If your bail is $10,000, the bondsman could offer the bounty hunter 10% to 20% of the bail figure if you are successfully captured and brought to court.
In most states, bounty hunters are registered or licensed professionals who play a crucial role in the bail bond business and the criminal justice system. The state insurance departments and other licensing authorities monitor the role of bounty hunters.
The History of Bounty Hunters
Bounty hunting started in England in the 13th century. This time, bail was not money but an actual person. During this time, the court designated a custodian to keep track of the accused person and present them at trial. The custodian would be forced to stand trial and likely be hanged in place of the accused if he/she failed to present the accused in court.
A structured bail structure was formed later, in 1679. The British Parliament enacted and approved the renowned Habeas Corpus Act, which permitted defendants to be released on monetary bail. The U.S. Constitution later embraced the act. This law prevented the setting of excessive bail amounts. The Judiciary Act of 1789 also served to identify bailable crimes but was also the foundation of the U.S. judicial court system.
In 1873, Taylor v. Taintor, the United States Supreme Court case, granted bounty hunters the power to act as agents of bail bondsmen. This court ruling also gave bounty hunters several rights, like the right to pursue arrestees in other states and, if necessary, enter their houses without a warrant. Bounty hunters were allowed to do so purposely to return the arrestees on revoked bails.
In 1996, the Bail Reform Act was passed, and laws relating to bail began to take shape. The Bail Reform Act of 1996 constituted verbiage, which allowed arrestees to be released on as little bail as possible to ensure they showed up for trial. The Second Bail Reform Act of 1984 permitted courts to deny bail to people considered dangerous for release.
Jail Information
Ventura County Jail
2101 E Olsen Rd, Thousand Oaks
CA 91360
Court Information
Ventura CourtHouse
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93009
Find a Reputable Bondsman Near Me
When the police arrest you or your loved one, your priority will be to secure release from custody within the shortest time possible. This is where our experienced Santa Rosa Valley bail bondsmen will come in. At Bail Bonds, we take pride in being the go-to bail bond company in Ventura County and the surrounding areas. We have provided reliable bail bond services to clients throughout Ventura County for many years.
We understand the anxiety and inconvenience that come with being behind bars. We will help you post bail as soon as possible. Our bondsmen are located close to the central jails or courts. Whether you contact us during work hours or after work hours, we will be there to help you post bail. Call us at 323-579-1415 to talk to one of our bondsmen.
