When you or a loved one is unexpectedly arrested, it can be extremely difficult and disorienting. You may feel unsure about what steps to take next. When a judge sets bail, the significant financial obligation can make it difficult to secure release. A bail bond is a financial guarantee that secures your pre-trial release, allowing you to go home, prepare your defense, and return to normal life. It turns something expensive into a non-refundable fee with the help of a professional surety.
Do not let financial worries separate you from your family during difficult times. Call JR’s Bail Bonds immediately for expert, reliable, and confidential help securing a release anytime, day or night.
What is Bail and How is the Amount Set in California?
Bail is the sum a defendant pays to secure release from jail while awaiting trial. The payment serves as a guarantee to the court that the defendant will appear at all required hearings. The fundamental function of bail is to compel the defendant’s presence at all required court proceedings. If the defendant fails to appear, the bail is forfeited to the court, and a bench warrant is issued for their arrest.
Every county in California, including Riverside County, maintains its bail schedule. This schedule is a guideline that recommends bail amounts for certain crimes that range from felonies to misdemeanors. When law enforcement arrests someone, they usually set the initial bail according to this schedule.
However, this schedule is only a guideline. During the initial court hearing, which is called an arraignment, the judge sets the final bail or release conditions. The California Supreme Court has ruled that a defendant cannot be jailed because he/she cannot afford to pay the bail set by a judge. Based on the following key factors, the judge must conduct an individualized assessment using discretion to adjust the amount or grant release on non-financial conditions (own recognizance/O.R.):
- Public safety — The foremost concern is whether the defendant presents a risk of danger to the community or any particular person upon release.
- Severity of the offense — The seriousness of the charges and whether the crime involved violence or weapons.
- Criminal history — This includes any prior convictions, particularly for violent crimes, FTA, or probation/parole status.
- Flight risk — The chances that the defendant will not appear in court again are assessed due to ties to the community (job, family, property).
- Ability to pay — A judge must consider the defendant’s ability to pay when determining the final monetary amount of bail.
Why You Should Choose a Bail Bond Service
A bail bond service is often the fastest and most affordable way to secure the release of someone you care about when faced with high bail costs. While cash bail requires paying the full amount up front to the court, a bail bond relieves you of a substantial financial headache by reducing it to a manageable service fee.
The key benefits of choosing a bail bond include:
- Financial accessibility — Bail bonds usually charge 10% of the bail amount. Instead of paying the full cash bail, you pay only a non-refundable premium. For example, families can pay $5,000 to have their loved one released from jail if the total bail is $50,000.
- Speed and expertise — Because arrests do not happen at a set time, families may need to secure someone out of jail quickly. Competent Corona bail bondsmen are experts in the local court and jail systems. They know the correct forms to file and the appropriate desk to approach. This can help expedite the release process faster than fighting the bureaucratic processes in the court and jail yourself.
- Preservation of your assets — With a bail bond already in place, you do not have to dig into your savings, liquidate your investments, or borrow at premium rates for a temporary release. The 10% premium reduces the financial shock while keeping all your liquidity available for urgent matters like legal fees and family support.
- Structure and support — The bail bondsman sets up a structured system, not just a deal where they post the bond. They are financially incentivized, as a surety, to ensure the defendant attends court when directed. This often encompasses notifications about court appearances, check-ins, and reminders to ensure the defendant complies with court orders.
How Bail Bond Process Works
If your loved one is in jail, the bail bond process is designed to be efficient so that you can easily secure his/her pretrial release. Once you decide to use a bail bond to release your loved one, there are core stages of the bail bond process in California.
- To start the process, you contact a licensed bail bondsman. You must provide the defendant’s information. This includes his/her full name, date of birth, place of arrest (that is, the jail in Riverside County), and the bail amount set by the court. You can count on bail bondsmen with 24/7 operations for their services.
- Once the bail bondsman verifies the information, as the co-signer or indemnitor, you will sign the bail bond agreement. At this time, you will pay the non-refundable 10% premium. Sometimes, the premium can be paid through payment plans, depending on the bail amount.
- Once the contract is signed and the premium is secured, Corona bail bondsmen will physically take and submit the bond documents to the jail or courthouse where the defendant is held. This surety bond guarantees the court that the full bail amount will be paid if the defendant fails to meet court conditions.
- Once the jail processes the bail bond, which can depend on how busy the jail is and the time of day, the defendant will be released. A bail bondsman must maintain contact with the co-signer and defendant to ensure all conditions of the release are understood.
Premiums and Collateral for Corona Bail Bonds
To understand the monetary side of a bail bond, you must first understand two different mechanisms:
- The service fee
- The collateral
State law regulates the principal cost and all-inclusive transparency. However, other security requirements could apply based on the release’s risk. The most immediate and universally required component is the premium, which is set at 10% of the total bail amount by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) and constitutes the mandatory, non-refundable service fee. For example, a bail set at $25,000 only requests a payment of $2,500 for temporary release.
The premium is the sum paid to the bondsman in consideration for taking a considerable financial risk to guarantee the defendant’s appearance at court. Thus, the bondsman receives this fee when the accused is released from jail. As a result, the payment is non-refundable even if the court drops charges or the defendant secures a not guilty verdict. This fundamentally differentiates it from cash bail, which is fully refundable and is directly deposited with the court. The fee pays for the work and time of the bondsman and their contract liability.
Bail bond companies sometimes require an extra layer of security, known as collateral, in addition to their core service fee. This generally applies to very high amounts of bail, usually over $50,000, or if the defendants are a flight risk. When a defendant skips bail and fails to show up to their court date, the bail bond company has the right to go after the co-signer or indemnitor for the whole bail amount if they accepted security for that purpose. To secure the loan, you can offer acceptable forms of collateral, including a deed to a property, a car, funds held in a bank account, or gold.
Most importantly, unlike the non-refundable premium, the nature of the collateral depends on the defendant. If the defendant appears in court as required, the court will “exonerate” the bail, meaning the bond has done its job. When a co-signer is freed, any collateral goes back to them, discharging the bond and ending the relationship.
The Co-Signer’s Critical Role
In a bail bond agreement, the indemnitor is legally established as the one who agrees to “indemnify” the bail bond company for any loss the bail bond company suffers due to the defendant failing to comply with the terms of the agreement.
By accepting this role, the indemnitor also undertakes a crucial non-monetary obligation: to do everything he/she can to ensure that the defendant appears on all court dates. The bail bond contract is based on this principle: the contract stands as long as the defendant complies with the court’s orders. If the defendant misses court, it will breach their bond contract, resulting in the indemnitor being liable for payment.
Consequently, this failure initiates the most serious responsibility of the co-signer: full financial liability. If the defendant is a “skip,” meaning they fail to appear in court, the court will forfeit the bail bond immediately. The bail bond company is responsible for paying the complete bail sum to the court and will look for immediate reimbursement from the indemnitor. As a legally binding contract, the co-signer has total financial responsibility for the bail amount. This means that the co-signer could lose their collateral, like property or other valuables, put up to post the bond.
Skipping Bail in Corona
When a defendant skips a required court date, it creates a skip or a Failure to Appear (FTA). This is a very costly and devastating affair. If this happens, the defendant and the cosigner who secured the defendant’s release will face serious consequences.
Skipping bail is not just a violation of contract. Under California law, it is a crime. The crime of failure to appear is governed by California Penal Code §1320.5. When a court releases a defendant on a bail bond for a felony charge and he/she intentionally misses his/her court date, the defendant may face felony charges under PC §1320.5. Further, conviction may lead to additional time in jail and $10,000 in fines.
The judge instantly issues a bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest due to his/her willful absence. According to this warrant, police can locate, arrest, and return the defendant to custody, which does not allow for new bail.
The monetary system reacts simultaneously when the defendant faces a bench warrant issue. When the court declares the bail bond forfeited immediately, the surety (the bail bond company) must pay the full bail amount. Because of this decision, the co-signer, or indemnitor, is legally and contractually obligated to pay the full bail amount to the bail bond company, putting any collateral at risk of being forfeited immediately. To avoid this sizable loss of money, the bail bond company will usually have a statutory period of 185 days from the date of the FTA to locate and return the defendant to court so that they can ask that the bond be reinstated.
How to Choose a Reputable Corona Bail Bondsman
Choosing a licensed and ethical bail bondsman is important to ensure a smooth and transparent process.
- Ensure the Corona bail bondsman has a valid California license issued by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) at the commencement of trade. This verifies they are legally authorized to operate.
- A reputable company will be completely transparent about all fees. The only mandated charge is a premium of 10%. Ask for a clear explanation of all administrative costs and collateral.
- Arrests happen at all hours. In Corona, you should be able to rely on bail bond services that are ready 24/7 and can post your bond at any time without delay.
- The agreement is complex. A good bondsman will take his/her time to explain the agreement to you in full. You want to know everything signing entails and your responsibilities as an indemnitor.
Corona Jail and Courthouse Information
Robert Presley Detention Center (RPDC)
4000 Orange Street, Riverside, CA 92501
Corona Courthouse (Superior Court of California, County of Riverside)
505 S. Buena Vista Ave, Room 201, Corona, CA 92882
Find a Bail Bondsman Near Me
Getting a bail bond is a powerful tool. This allows you to leverage a small premium to secure your or your loved one’s release. It will enable your family to stay together as you await trial. Even though the bail bond process is a quick and inexpensive way to get someone out of jail, it is still a serious financial and legal contract for the co-signer. When you understand the nonrefundable costs, process, and full extent of the indemnitor’s liability, you should be able to make a confident decision.
If you are ready to take the next step with a reliable partner, contact JR’s Bail Bonds. Contact our Corona bail bondsmen at 888-577-2245.
