JR’s Bail Bonds – Bellflower Bail Bondsman
The justice system can be confusing and intimidating, especially when you are navigating it with a loved one in jail. You may face an unexpectedly high bail that seems impossible to pay. This is where a bail bond can help.
A bail bond is a financial guarantee a licensed Bellflower bail bondsman provides to ensure the defendant appears at all scheduled court dates. In exchange, you pay a small, non-refundable percentage of the bail amount. It allows your loved one to be released from jail, prepare their case at home, and avoid lengthy pretrial detention.
Call JR’s Bail Bonds today to bring your loved one home if you need fast and compassionate bail assistance in Bellflower.
How Bail Works and How Much It Costs
Bail is a financial incentive used in the criminal justice system to ensure a defendant appears for all required court dates. It allows a person to be released from custody before trial by posting money or a bond to guarantee they will not flee. If the defendant attends all hearings, the bail money is returned at the end of the case. If they fail to appear, the bail is forfeited to the court, and a warrant is issued for their arrest.
The bail in Bellflower is set by the pre-existing Los Angeles County bail schedule or by a judge during a bail hearing.
The bail schedule is a table of the standardized bail rates for various offenses, with more serious crimes having higher bail rates. This schedule will enable law enforcement to give bail immediately after an arrest so that a person can be readily released.
Ultimately, the decision to set bail lies with the court, most often reached during the initial hearing of the accused in court, the arraignment. At this hearing, the judge may increase or decrease the amount of the almost-set schedule of bail or may release a defendant on their own recognizance (without bail).
In determining the final bail amount, the judges take into consideration several important factors:
- Public safety — This is a crucial factor to consider. The judge determines whether the defendant poses a potential threat to the community or the alleged victim.
- Seriousness of the crime — The more serious the crime, a violent felony compared to a misdemeanor, the higher the bail amount will be, because the defendant is regarded as a higher flight risk.
- Criminal history of defendant — Past convictions of similar crimes or any other past failure to appear in court will increase criminal bail.
- Flight risk — The judge would assess the defendant’s risk of fleeing to avoid prosecution. It involves examination of their affiliations to society, employment, and family.
An Overview of the Bellflower Bail Bonds Process
The bail bondsman process is a set of procedures through which a defendant can be set free on bond by engaging a licensed bail bondsman to pledge a financial guarantee on behalf of the defendant. This is a common solution for individuals who cannot afford the entire bail fee imposed by the court.
- Arrest and booking after an arrest — A defendant is brought into a police station or a county jail, where he/she is booked. The process involves documenting their personal data, fingerprints, mugshots, and a criminal background check. At this stage, the jail verifies the charges and the bail amount, which usually depends on the amount of bail set in the bail schedule. This information is what a bail bondsman needs to begin the release process.
- Communicating with a bail bondsman — When the bail amount is determined, one of the friends or family members can contact a Bellflower bail bondsman. You will be asked to present important information to the bail bondsman, including the defendant’s full name, date of birth, the charges, and the name of the jail where the defendant is held.
- The bail bond agreement — The bail bondsman will then outline the terms of the agreement. The co-signer (the one who guarantees the bond) signs a contract and pays a non-refundable premium, a percentage of the total amount of the bond, which is about 10%. For example, if bail is set at $20,000, you would pay a $2,000 premium. This fee is the service cost of the bail bondsman and will not be refunded even if the case is dismissed.
- The bail bondsman then posts the bond — After the contract has been signed, and the premium has been paid. They prepare and file the required paperwork and post the bail bond to the jail or the court. This document acts as a surety, an assurance that the bail bondsmen that he/she will pay the entire amount of bail if the defendant does not show up in his/her hearings.
- Release — When the courts approve and process the bail bond, the jail initiates the defendant’s release process. Depending on the facility’s workload, this may last between half an hour and a few hours. Then the defendant is released and allowed to return to his/her home, awaiting the trial. Most importantly, he/she should be present at all future court dates.
The Financial Implications of Bellflower Bail Bondsman
Paying for a bail bond involves two key financial components: the premium and, in some cases, collateral. Understanding these costs is crucial for anyone seeking to secure the release of a loved one from jail.
The significant cost of a bail bond is the premium. It is the service fee of a bail bondsman. State law highly regulates this fee and is typically set at 10% of the total bail amount. For example, if bail is set at $50,000, the premium is $5,000. This sum is not refundable, irrespective of the case outcome. Although the case is dismissed or the defendant acquitted, the premium is the compensation of the bail bondsman for the financial risk they take in guaranteeing the full bail amount to the court.
A bail bondsman may require collateral in addition to the premium for exceptionally high bail amounts. Collateral is a security, an asset you temporarily sign over to the bail bondsman, which they receive as a pledge to guarantee the defendant’s court appearances. It serves as a form of insurance for the bail bondsman. Popular types of collateral are:
- Real estate, such as a deed to property or a lien to a home
- Vehicles, such as a car, truck, or boat
- Other personal effects, including jewelry or other valuable items
If the defendant does not attend the court, the bail is forfeited, and the Bellflower bail bondsman can recover his/her losses by taking possession of the collateral. However, if the defendant appears on every date before the court as scheduled, the collateral can be returned to the owner at the end of the case when the court has formally exonerated the bond.
The Legal and Financial Responsibilities of a Co-Signer
When co-signing a bail bond, you are not doing a favor to your friend or family member, but entering into a serious legal and financial contract. The law refers to you as the indemnitor or cosigner who guarantees a bail bondsman against a loss. There is also a lot of responsibility and risk involved in this role, of which you should have full knowledge before you sign the bail bond agreement.
The primary role of an indemnitor is to ensure that the defendant attends every one of his/her court appearances. The bail bond is a financial promise made to the court that the defendant will not flee, and by co-signing, you are backing up that promise. You are essentially the guarantor for the defendant’s future court appearances, and the bail bondsman trusts you to help ensure compliance. This usually involves constantly communicating with the defendant and reminding them what to do.
By co-signing a bail bond, you accept full financial responsibility for the bail. Although the non-refundable premium you will spend during the initial payment is just a minor proportion of the overall bail, your exposure is considerably greater. If the defendant does not appear in court and he/she skip bail, the court will order the bail be forfeited.
If the court requires the Bellflower bail bondsman to pay the entire amount, you, as the indemnitor, are called to pay the bail bondsman the full amount of the bail. Depending on the bail set, this may amount to tens of thousands of dollars or more. The bail bondsman is also legally entitled to recover the money by collecting you or any other collateral deposited to secure the bond.
The Difference Between Collateral and Property Bonds
Collateral and a property bond should not be confused, as the bail process has two different legal processes. The essence of the transaction and the parties involved is the essence of the difference.
Collateral is a security offered to a bail bond company as security for a surety bond. Conversely, a property bond is a method of posting bail, which is posted directly with the court. Bail bond companies are not involved in this process. Rather than paying a premium or cash, an accused or his/her representative promises the court the equity in his/her real estate as a personal guarantee. A property lien is then put in place by the court.
It can be a complicated and time-consuming process involving a formal hearing to confirm the value and equity of the property and ensure that all legal requirements have been fulfilled. The advantage is that no premium is paid. Nevertheless, the court has the authority to seize the property if the accused does not turn up, to claim the entire value of the bail. The bond in this case is the property itself, and the legal agreement has been made with the court directly.
Using a property bond to secure your release places your real estate at risk, as the court can initiate foreclosure proceedings if you fail to appear. On the other hand, a bail bond is the best option for most people since the risk associated with losing your property is transferred to the bail bond company, which you compensate with a non-refundable fee.
The Impact of Failing to Post Bail
Failure to appear in court after being released on bail is a serious offense to the defendant and the cosigner. In cases where a defendant does not appear in a court session with a predetermined date without any substantial reason, the judge will issue a bench warrant to arrest the defendant, and a fresh criminal complaint will be provided.
The court will also order the bail bond to be forfeited. It means that the court is now entitled to the entire bail amount. The bail bondsman who promised the full amount in the first place is now liable to pay this amount to the court.
As the co-signer, you are the financial guarantor (or indemnitor) of the defendant’s release, and the bail bondsman will look to you to recover their loss. They may seize collateral or take legal action against you in civil court to recover the bail amount. This may result in wage garnishment, bank account garnishment, or a property lien.
The bail bondsman is given a 180-day grace period to trace the defendant and hand him/her back to custody to avoid paying the entire forfeited bond. In this regard, they can employ a fugitive recovery agent, otherwise referred to as a bounty hunter, to locate and arrest the accused. If the agent successfully restores the defendant, the forfeiture can be set aside, and the co-signer may avoid financial ruin.
Bellflower Jail and Courthouse Information
Jail information
Lakewood Sheriff’s Station Jail
5130 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, CA 90712
Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF)
11705 South Alameda Street, Lynwood, CA 90262
Inmate Information Line: (213) 473-6100
Courthouse Information
The Bellflower Courthouse, a Branch of the Los Angeles County Superior Court
10025 East Flower Street, Bellflower, CA 90706
Find a Bellflower Bail Bondsman Near Me
The California justice system is tricky and confusing at times. Upon an arrest, the court could set the bail so high that you cannot afford it. In this case, it is a good idea to have a bail bond as a practical remedy. By providing a financial guarantee, a bail bondsman allows your loved one to be released from custody, allowing them to prepare for their defense from the comfort of home. This service bridges the gap between the high cost of bail and your ability to pay, making bringing someone home both manageable and swift. Call JR’s Bail Bonds today to secure Bellflower bail bonds. Contact us at 888-577-2245.
Contact Us Now if you need bail bondsman in Bellflower
For reliable and prompt bail bond services in Bellflower, call us at (562)358-5556. Let Jr’s Bail Bonds help you through the process and get your loved one back home quickly.
