Bail Bonds Near Culver City – 24/7 Bail Bond Services
A criminal arrest in Culver City, even for a seemingly minor crime, can undoubtedly be a stressful and overwhelming experience. For many individuals facing this ordeal, all they may be thinking about is when everything will go back to how it used to be. Fortunately, California has a bail system that provides legal relief to many people accused of crimes.
Thanks to the bail system, you can post bail if you are arrested and secure your release from custody pending your court trial. This will prevent you from spending time behind bars until your case is resolved. However, bail can be expensive, and many defendants do not have the amount readily available. If you find yourself in this situation, we at JR’s Bail Bonds can assist you by securing a bail bond. We offer affordable Culver City bail bonds, providing a convenient way of securing your release. Contact us today for a consultation on bond processing.
Defining Bail
Bail is a system that enables a defendant to await trial outside of jail in exchange for property or an amount of money pledged to ensure their court attendance. The bail system is primarily founded on the belief in the presumption of innocence. Per this system, a person should not have to stay in jail until their case is resolved if they can keep their promise to attend all court dates. The main purpose of posting bail with the court is to warrant that the accused person will attend court whenever required.
Bail Determination in Culver City
In California, the amount of bail is typically determined by bail schedules. A bail schedule is a uniform, predetermined list of bail values for different crimes. This list sets standard bail values for different crimes. Every county in California has its bail schedule. Culver City uses the Los Angeles bail schedule. However, despite bail being determined by the bail schedule, judges have the discretion to reduce or increase the amount depending on several factors. Some of the factors they look at include the following:
- The seriousness of the supposed crime. A person accused of a minor offense may be required to post a lower amount of bail than a person facing serious felony charges.
- The accused person’s criminal history. A repeat offender will likely be subject to a higher bail amount than a first-time offender.
- The defendant’s community and family ties. A defendant who has strong community and family ties may face a lower bail amount, and vice versa.
- Public safety. If a defendant is a danger to the community, witnesses, or the alleged victim, the judge will set a higher bail amount.
- The defendant’s history of appearing in court and the likelihood that they will appear. A defendant who has failed to appear in court previously will likely face a higher bail amount.
- The likelihood that the defendant will flee the jurisdiction. If a defendant is a flight risk, the judge will likely set a higher bail amount.
- The defendant’s ability to post the bail amount. Before a judge sets bail, they will assess a defendant’s capability to pay the amount. If the defendant does not have plenty of financial resources or assets, the bail amount will likely be lower.
Judges can also deny bail entirely in certain cases. These cases include instances where a defendant is accused of a capital offense, like murder or treason, and if the court believes the accused poses a significant danger to society. A judge may also not set bail if they reasonably believe the accused poses a higher risk of flight.
If the judge denies bail, the accused will remain locked up until their case is resolved. Doing so ensures the accused will attend court and assists in protecting the public from possible harm. The right to deny a defendant bail is founded on the belief that, whereas an individual is entitled to pretrial release, this right is not absolute. Judges must balance this constitutional right with the requirement to maintain public safety and ensure the integrity of the judicial process.
Thus, when dealing with severe concerns about an accused’s criminal charges, conduct, or effect on the community, bail denial becomes a requisite measure within the legal system. Furthermore, this measure emphasizes the value of preserving public confidence and trust in the judicial system by ensuring that those who pose a threat remain detained until the end of their cases.
The Culver City Bail Process
The Culver City bail process starts with an official arrest. After being arrested, the police officer will take you into police custody, where you will undergo a police booking process. The booking procedure entails the following:
- Recording of vital personal information
- Taking mugshots
- Confiscation of clothing and personal property
- Fingerprinting
- Full body search
- Checking for outstanding warrants
- Doing a health check
After booking, the police officer will place you in a secure facility, such as a holding cell, as they take their report to the district attorney. The district attorney will review the report and decide on the next steps. If there is sufficient evidence to make a case, the D.A. will press charges against you. But if there is insufficient evidence, the D.A. may drop the case.
If the D.A. presses charges, you will be subject to an arraignment hearing. This hearing should happen within 24–48 hours of your arrest. During the hearing, you will enter a plea after the judge reads your charges. You can plead no contest, guilty, or not guilty. If you plead guilty or no contest, your case will go straight to sentencing. But if you plead not guilty, the judge may decide to set or deny bail. If they set it, they may also impose certain requirements that you must follow as a condition of staying out of custody. Some of these conditions include:
- Surrendering your travel documents to the authorities, including your passport and driver’s license
- Surrendering any guns to the police
- Regular check-ins with the authorities
- Staying away from the victim
- Undergoing alcohol and substance testing
- Attending AA meetings
- Enrolling in an alcohol or drug treatment program
- Electronic monitoring
- Home detention
- Undergoing psychological health treatment
- Installing an ignition interlock device
- Obeying curfew rules
If you violate any of these conditions, the presiding judge may revoke your bail and issue a bench warrant against you. Once rearrested, you may be denied a second bail and may have to remain in jail until your case is resolved.
Posting Bail in Culver City
Once the court has set bail, you must pay the amount first before you can be released. There are three primary ways to pay bail in Culver, each designed to provide flexibility based on the accused person’s financial situation and the specific case facts. These are cash bail, property bond, and Culver City bail bonds.
Cash Bail
Posting cash bail involves you or your family depositing the whole bail value in cash with the court. For example, if your bail amount is $10,000, and you have it readily available or your family can raise it quickly, you can deposit it and then secure your release. If you appear in court as required, the court system will refund the cash to you after your case is over.
This is the fastest way of posting bail. Furthermore, there is a possibility of a 100% refund of the bail money, making it an ideal option for defendants who have the funds but do not want to incur additional costs by using other methods of making bail.
However, as mentioned, cash bail necessitates having significant liquid assets, which is not always feasible for every accused person. Additionally, under PC 1275.1, the court will not accept your bail money if it is not convinced that the money came from a legitimate source.
If the prosecution reasonably believes you unlawfully obtained the bail money, for example, from the sale of drugs or embezzlement, it can demand a hearing to challenge the source of the money. In this hearing, the burden of proving that the bail money is from a valid source lies with you.
If the prosecutor believes you obtained the bail money illegally, they may place a hold on bail. The hold can only be lifted if you meet the burden of proving the legitimacy of the month, or the court fails to act within 24 hours of placing the hold.
Culver City Bail Bonds
If you cannot afford to post bail in cash, you can hire a Culver City bail bonds company to help you secure a bail bond. A bail bond refers to a financial promise that a bondsman provides to the court on a defendant’s behalf. By paying a nonrefundable fee, usually 10 percent of the bail value, a bondsman, working with the bond company you have hired, guarantees the whole bail amount to the court.
That said, a bail bond is the most accessible and convenient way for accused persons in Culver City to make bail, even though additional costs are involved. Using a Culver City bail bonds service can sometimes accelerate the jail release process because bondsmen typically understand the requirements of the bail process and can effectively navigate the legal justice system.
If you make all the court appearances, the court will refund the bond money to the bondsman when the case ends, and not to you. On the other hand, you will not receive the 10% premium you had paid the bondsman. If you fail to appear in court as required, the bondsman may forfeit the bond money to the court. They can then pursue you to recover their money. In this case, the bondsman can hire a bounty hunter to help search for you. Bail hunters are authorized to cross state lines and apply reasonable force to ensure defendants return to the court’s custody.
Property Bonds
In some cases, you can use property as bail rather than cash. In this case, the real estate must have an equity value that is twice the imposed bail amount. After appraising the property, the court will record a lien on it. If you fail to attend court, the court can foreclose on the property and sell it to recover the bail money. But if you attend the hearings as necessary, the court will lift the lien on your property when your case ends, and you can have it back.
A property bond is particularly an ideal option for accused persons who own expensive property but lack enough liquid assets. Nevertheless, the likelihood of a defendant losing their asset could be a huge deterrent.
The Culver City Bail Bonds Process
The bail bonds process in Culver City can begin right after the judge sets bail. Once bail is set, and you cannot afford it, your first step is to call a licensed, certified, and professional local Culver City bail bonds company (or have your loved ones place the call for you). Once you place your call, you will be directed to a bail bondsman, who will ask you some quick questions about you and your arrest. They will need to know information like:
- Your full name
- Your date of birth
- Your booking number
- The illegal activity you allegedly committed
- Where the arrest happened
- Which jail is holding you
- The set bail amount
The bail bondsman will use the details they have obtained to prepare a bail bond agreement and application. These documents are not that lengthy, and you or your loved one can easily complete them remotely if meeting the bondsman personally is impossible.
After you have completed the necessary documents, the bondsman will need you to pay the 10% premium. They will then travel to the relevant court facility to pay the bond amount. In Culver City, you can pay bail 24/7. So, it does not matter when you choose to start the bond process; you do not need to wait for the jail’s or court’s business hours to secure your release.
Some bond companies may require you to provide collateral to secure the bond, especially if the bail amount is substantial. If you miss court, the bondsman can sell the collateral to recover the forfeited amount, and then they will not have to pursue you for collection. If you appear in court as required, the bondsman will return the collateral to you. Collateral can be anything of high value, like a vehicle, jewelry, real estate, or collectibles.
Once the bondsman has posted the bond, you will be released from jail. The release process can take between thirty minutes and twelve hours, contingent on how busy the jail staff is.
What Are Own Recognizance Release and Citation Release?
In some cases, the judge might release you on your own recognizance (O.R. release). That means they will not set the bail amount but will require you to sign a written promise to attend court. Own recognizance release is generally an option for defendants considered to pose a lower risk of flight and a minimal threat to the public. This form of pretrial release can be beneficial because it saves the offender from financial stress and permits them to perform their everyday duties without worrying about bail.
Citation release, or cite-out, is also another form of pretrial release. Here, the arresting police officer does not even take you in for questioning or detain you. Instead, they cite and release you at the scene of the arrest. The citation will require you to attend court on a given date.
Citation release bypasses bail entirely and applies to minor offenses. This form of pretrial release primarily benefits people facing low-level charges. That is because it prevents the immediate effect of staying only in jail and enables them to handle their legal issues without so much disruption to their lives.
A Co-Signer’s Role in Culver City Bail Bonds
If you are helping your loved one process their bail bond, you will be their co-signer. As a co-signer, you understand that you are taking financial responsibility for the entire bond amount if your loved one fails to appear for their court hearings or violates bail conditions. That said, you should be 100% confident that your love will attend court. Your bondsman will explain to you your duties before they let you sign your bond contract.
That said, part of your responsibility is to ensure the defendant makes court appearances on the scheduled dates. You should check on the accused to ensure they attend court hearings. If the offender fails to fulfill all their court responsibilities, you will have to pay the bond company the total bond amount it forfeited, regardless of the cost. Consequently, ensure that you only secure a bond for someone you trust completely.
Court Information
Stanley Mosk Courthouse
111 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone Number: (213)830-0803
Airport Courthouse
11701 La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone Number: (310) 725-3000
Jail Information
Culver City Police Department
4040 Duquesne Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232
Phone Number: (310) 837-1221
Twin Towers Correctional Facility
450 Bauchet St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone Number: (213) 473-6100
Men’s Central Jail
441 Bauchet St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone Number: (213) 974-4921
Find an experienced Culver City Bail Bonds Service Near Me
An arrest in Culver City can happen unexpectedly, but a lack of money should not be the reason you stay in jail. An experienced local Culver City bail bondsman can help you secure your release within the shortest time possible. At JR’s Bail Bonds, our professional bondsmen will assist you in navigating the whole process, ensuring you understand each step. With professional service and flexible bail options, we are available to make an overwhelming situation more manageable. Contact us at (424) 424-1277 to learn about your options and expedite the release process.
