JR’s Bail Bonds – Glendale Bail Bondsman
After you are arrested and charged with an offense, the judge can grant you bail. Bail is the money you post with the court to secure your pretrial release, and its purpose is to ensure you return to court when required. However, the judge can set a huge bail amount depending on factors, like the nature of the crime, whether you pose a threat to your community, and your criminal history, making it unaffordable. JR’s Bail Bonds understands that you are worried and stressed and can make the Glendale bail bonds process seamless so that you can focus on what matters to you. We can explain to you what to expect and offer flexible repayment plans if you cannot afford the required premium.
Understanding Bail
Bail is the financial arrangement that enables you to be freed from detention pending your trial. The primary objective of bail is to guarantee that you will attend your scheduled court dates. Since bail is not a punishment, the court will refund the posted money or property once your case is closed, provided you complied with your release conditions.
The judge sets the bail amount based on factors, including the following:
- Your criminal history
- Whether you are a flight risk —Whether you can flee the country, state, or county to evade law enforcement and avoid future court hearings.
- Your community ties — Do you have a family living in the community? Do you volunteer within your community? Do you run a business or have employment in the community?
- The nature of the alleged crime — Dangerous, violent felonies attract higher bail amounts than misdemeanors. The judge will also consider factors like whether you threatened the victim, whether the crime involved the use of deadly weapons, and whether you possessed or used controlled substances.
- Whether you have a substance abuse and mental health history
- Whether you pose a threat to your community after your release
- Your history of attending court hearings
- Your risk of reoffending
If the suspect or their loved one cannot afford the total bail amount, they can partner with a bail bond company to secure their release. The Glendale bail bonds company will post a surety bond with the court in exchange for a ten percent non-refundable fee. The bondsman guarantees you will appear in court. If you skip bail, the firm becomes financially accountable for paying the full bail amount.
You can also choose to partner with a bondsman to prevent scrutiny from law enforcers after posting a huge bail amount. Typically, judges place any money they believe originated from a felonious transaction on a 1275 hold, especially if the alleged crime is drug trafficking or embezzlement. In this case, you must prove the origin of the amount.
Another way to post bail is by using a property bond, which allows the court to issue a lien on real property for the set bail amount. The process can be time-consuming. Failing to comply with your release conditions, including appearing in court, can lead to the court forfeiting your asset.
The law also provides various options for pretrial release that do not require posting a monetary bail. Judges and courts use these options to ensure fairness and reduce jail overcrowding. One of these options is an own recognizance release, which involves promising the court that you will appear in court as scheduled. Failing to satisfy your release conditions can lead to a rearrest and additional criminal charges. Typically, judges grant an O.R. when the following are true:
- The alleged offenses are non-violent.
- The defendants have no previous criminal history
- The individuals have strong ties to the community
Contacting Your Glendale Bail Bonds Service Provider
If you require bail assistance from a bail bonds firm, you can call them to discuss eligibility and terms. Since most defendants do not have the freedom or time to work with a bondsman, you can request a loved one to handle the release process for you.
When contacting your bondsman, remember to collect the information below:
- The name of the defendant
- The accused’s date of birth
- The accused’s telephone number and address
- The set bail amount
- The nature of the alleged crime
- Booking umber
- The location and name of the jail where your loved one is detained
Discuss the bail fees the bondsman charges, because you should first pay the required premium before the bondsman posts your surety bond. While most bondsmen charge a ten percent premium on the entire bai amount. If you can’t pay the premium, you can inquire whether the company offers payment plans. The financing enables you to make a down payment and then clear the balance in installments over a specified duration. Before entering your affordable financing contract, ensure you can pay the fees, since defaulting can negatively impact your credit score.
While discussing fees, inquire about a comprehensive quotation to ensure renewal charges or hidden charges do not make the services expensive. Do not hesitate to ask for clarification.
Remember to discuss the conditions of your bail bonds.
As a cosigner, you should also understand the conditions of your contract before signing it. The language in the contract may be complicated and full of legal terms, and your bondsman is not obligated to explain the clauses in detail. You should ask for clarification if you do not understand. You can use your ignorance of the contract’s details as a defense if the accused fails to adhere to the release terms. The contract is your practical and official commitment that outlines your accountability for the entire bail amount, recovery costs and responsibility to provide assistance and correct information if the accused skips bail.
Bail Conditions
Before releasing you, the court will impose certain bail conditions depending on the facts of your criminal case. Common conditions include the following:
- Home confinement
- Refrain from contacting the case victim or witnesses.
- Refrain from driving a motor vehicle while drunk
- Surrender your passport and driver’s license (travel restrictions).
- Surrendering firearms to law enforcement
- Refrain from interacting with particular people or visiting specific places
Bail Bond Terms and Conditions Compliance
Court compliance refers to following all court-imposed requirements following your bail release. Your bondsman can help with compliance by doing the following:
- Providing a clear explanation of your responsibilities — Your seasoned bondsman can make sure you comprehend your bail conditions, including travel restrictions and court dates.
- Offer guidance — A bondsman can provide you with necessary advice and resources, which include referral to legal counsel, if required, to help you remain on the right track.
- Giving timely reminders — Routine reminders of your court appearances and responsibilities help prevent missed court dates, which could result in bail forfeiture.
Here are more helpful tips to ensure your compliance:
- Maintain open communication — Keep your bail bondsman fully informed of any changes in your situation. Contact your attorney often for clarity about your legal responsibilities.
- Organize yourself — Using a calendar, you can keep track of your upcoming court dates and any deadlines. You should also store crucial legal documentation in a single place for easier reference.
- Adhere to your travel restrictions— If your bail condition entails travel restrictions, ensure you request the court’s approval before exceeding the set geographical limitations.
- Set automatic reminders — Set notifications or alarms on your phone to stay on top of upcoming court appearances or check-ins.
- Do not engage in risky conduct — Keep off any behavior that may result in a violation of your bail conditions or more legal trouble.
- Obey all imposed conditions.
- Prepare for your court appearances — Take diligent measures to prepare for your scheduled court appearances. Mark the trial dates on your calendar and make your transportation arrangements in advance to ensure you do not miss a hearing. Staying in touch with your lawyer can help you learn of any potential changes and prepare adequately for your court hearings.
- Maintain your community ties — During your post-bail period, ensure that you maintain your ties to the community. Balancing your legal responsibilities with your role in the community can strengthen your support system. Therefore, stay in contact with your loved ones and colleagues while adhering to the court-imposed conditions. You can volunteer within your community. You should also maintain or seek employment to build strong community ties. Proving responsible conduct within your local community may significantly influence your standing during the trial.
- Attend your check-ins—If instructed to do so, attend all planned check-ins with your Glendale bail bonds firm.
- Do not quit your job — Quitting your employment means you will have less money to build your criminal case defense. Additionally, most basic conditions include maintaining or finding a job. Quitting your employment after your release shows the court that you plan on fleeing the jurisdiction.
Repercussions of Court-Imposed Conditions Non-Compliance
The failure to comply with your court-imposed requirements can lead to severe consequences, which include the following:
- The court can revoke your bail, resulting in your immediate re-arrest.
- The court can also forfeit your entire bail. Bail forfeiture means the court seizes the money or property you had posted as a penalty. If you use a Grandale bail bonds service provider, the firm will become financially responsible for paying the full amount to the court. The bondsman will try to recover the incurred losses from you or your cosigner.
- Violating your bail conditions can result in additional charges, depending on the specific facts of your case, which can further complicate the matter.
Grandale Bail Bonds Collateral
The collateral you use in the agreement with the Grandale bail bonds company must satisfy some key requirements, including the following:
- The collateral should be valuable — The value of your collateral should be sufficient to cater for the entire bail amount once the bail bond company has deducted its fee or premium. The requirement to provide valuable collateral ensures that the bail bond company can recover its investment if the defendant fails to appear in court.
- The collateral should be legal and transferable— Your piece of collateral should be something you legally own and can transfer ownership of. For instance, land, deeds, and car titles are excellent options because they represent real property that is easily transferable from one entity to another.
- The collateral must be easy to sell — Your collateral should also be an item that a Grandale bail bond company can easily sell if you fail to comply with the release terms and conditions. Bail bondsmen typically do not accept assets that are difficult to liquidate, as liquidating them can be a time-consuming process.
- The collateral should not be pledged elsewhere — Your collateral should not be anything you have pledged as collateral for another bond or loan. For instance, a home under mortgage might be ineligible because you cannot transfer its ownership.
Here are different types of collateral that can help you secure a bond:
- Real estate —Bail bond companies accept collateral in the form of real estate, which includes parcels of land, residential homes, or commercial buildings. The bondsman will evaluate the property’s worth to determine its qualification to obtain the requested bond. Note that when considering using real estate as collateral, you may be required to present additional documents and undergo some procedural steps before finalizing your bond agreement.
- Cars — Bail bond companies allow potential clients to use vehicles as collateral; the permissible automobiles are wide-ranging. The bondsman will carefully review the car’s worth or suitability to cover the requested bail amount. Choosing an automobile as collateral can require you to prove ownership and submit relevant documentation relating to its valuation.
- Valuables— You can also use valuables, like artwork, jewelry, collectibles, or antiques, as collateral to secure a bail bond. Although these items may have significant value, you must provide the Glendale bail bond company with a formal appraisal report for the firm to accept them as collateral.
What Happens to the Money After Your Criminal Case Is Closed?
Whether you receive your money back following the resolution of the case against you depends on different factors, and here is what to expect:
Cash Bail
When you post a cash bail to the court, you make a refundable deposit to the court. You post the total amount upfront, and the court keeps it as security.
After you attend all scheduled court proceedings and adhere to the relevant terms and conditions, you will receive a refund. The court’s verdict against you, whether not guilty, guilty, or whether the court drops the charges, does not determine your refund. Instead, the court looks at whether you fulfilled your guarantee to attend court proceedings.
Although the court returns the bail money, it may first make deductions. Common items courts deduct include fines, fees, or restitution. However, the amount of the deductions varies depending on different factors.
The individual who paid the bail money is the person who receives the cash back after your case is resolved.
Bail Bonds
If you hired a bondsman, you cannot claim the amount you paid them; when you employ a bondsman, you are not making a deposit but paying for their services. As previously mentioned, the Glendale bail bonds company posts your surety bond, and in return, you pay it a nonrefundable fee of 10% of your bail amount. In other words, the fee or premium is the cost that the bail bond company incurs for taking on the risk of guaranteeing the bail amount.
If your bail bond company has requested collateral, it will return the collateral to you once your criminal case is closed, provided you have attended all your scheduled court dates.
The Process of Securing Your Bail Refund
Here is what to expect:
If you posted a cash bail, the court will issue an order to release the bail or to exonerate the bail after your case concludes. Next, you should consult the clerk’s office where you post your bail, and you will be guided through the court procedure.
During the bail refund process, you should present the following:
- Original copy of the bail receipt
- Court order proving bail exoneration
- Valid ID, which can be either a passport or a driver’s license
- Social security number
- Proof of current address
- Filled out the refund request form from the court
How Long Does the Refund Process Take?
The time it takes to receive the bail refund depends on your location and the court’s backlog.
Many bail refunds can take from two to twelve weeks upon the conclusion of your case.
California courts handle many cases, and processing bail refunds is not always a priority. Therefore, do not despair if you experience some administrative delays.
Courthouse, Jail, and Police Department Contact Details
Glendale City Jail
131 N. Isabel Street
Glendale, CA 91206
Glendale Police Department
131 N Isabel Street
Glendale, CA 91206
Glendale Courthouse
600 E Broadway
Glendale, CA 91206
Find a Seasoned Bondsman Near Me
When arrested and requiring bail, you might feel overwhelmed and confused, especially if it is your first time navigating Glendale bail bonds. JR’s Bail Bonds understands the intricacies of the process and can help you in completing the necessary paperwork, expediting your release. We can also answer your questions and explain the process in simple language, ensuring you understand your responsibilities and rights. Please call us at (747)209-0912 to learn more about our discreet, confidential, round-the-clock, and affordable services.
