How Bail Bonds Work

When an individual is arrested for a crime in the State of California, typically that person will be taken to a local law enforcement station for booking, prior to incarceration in a station lock-up or county jail. Once arrested and booked, the defendant has several options for release pending the conclusion of his or her case.

The bail system is designed to guarantee the appearance of a criminal defendant in court at the time the judge directs.

Release Options

The five basic release options available to an arrestee are

   1. Cash Bond
   2. Surety Bond
   3. Property Bond
   4. Release On Own recognizance (O.R.)
   5. Release On Citation ("Cite Out")

Cash Bail

To be released on cash bail, a person must post with the court the total amount of the bail, in cash, to secure his/her return to court on an appointed date, and thereafter until the case is finished. Full cash bonds are an incentive for defendants to appear at trial. If the defendant appears for his/her court appearances, the cash will be returned to him/her within 60-90 days. However, he/she fails to appear, the cash bond is forfeited to the court!

SURETY BOND (BAIL BOND)

The alternative to cash bail is the posting of a surety bond which is also known as a bail bond. This process involves a contractual undertaking guaranteed by an admitted insurance company having adequate assets to satisfy the face value of the bond. 1st Choice Bail Bonds guarantees to the court that they will pay the bond forfeiture if a defendant fails to appear for the designated court appearances. 1st Choice Bail Bonds guarantee is made through a surety company such as American Surety Company.

For this service, the defendant is charged a premium. To be released by posting a bail bond, the defendant or a relative or a friend, will usually contact 1st Choice Bail Bonds an agency licensed by the State of California to post bail bonds. Before a bond is posted, we will interview the proposed guarantor of the bail bond, as well as the defendant and relatives of the defendant, as part of the approval procedure for the bond.

By involving family and friends, as well through the acceptance of collateral, 1st Choice Bail Bonds can be assured the defendant being released on a bail bond will appear at his/her designated court date, as required, until the case is completed.

Once an agreement is made, we will complete the application and post the bail bond for the full amount of the bail to guarantee the defendant's return to court.

Once a defendant is released on a bail bond posted by 1st Choice Bail Bonds they will meet with an agent to be interviewed and go over the terms and conditions of bail. At 1st Choice Bail Bonds, we strive to make this process as simple as possible. All we ask is for defendants to communicate and be courteous. We offer the comfort of not being in jail while your case is adjudicated!

PROPERTY BOND

Depending on the court jurisdiction an individual may obtain release from custody by posting a property bond with the court. Here a court records a lien on property, to secure the bail amount. If the defendant fails to appear in court of his/her designated date, the court may start foreclosure proceedings against the property to obtain the forfeited bail amount.

OWN RECOGNIZANCE (OR)

Another method of release pending trial is through a county or law enforcement administered pre-trial release program. Typically a deputy or staff member of the jail will interview a defendant and will determine or recommend to the court regarding release of the defendant on their own recognizance. At Apollo Bail Bonds, Inc. we always verify if the defendant qualifies for OR!

CITATION RELEASE

Citation Release involves the issuance of a citation by the arresting officer to the defendant, informing the defendant that he/she must appear at an appointed court date. Citation Release usually occurs immediately after an individual is arrested.

Call 1st Choice Bail Bonds Today To Get Your Loved One Release In The Quickest Way Possible.
888-SOS-BAIL or 888-767-2245