Bail Bonds Still Exist

Most people don’t give much thought to how the bail system works until they need it for themselves or a loved one. However, if you or someone you know gets arrested and charged with a crime, it’s important to understand how bail bonds work so that you can get them out of jail quickly without incurring crippling bail fees in the process. While the law varies from state to state, there are several rulings that are relatively consistent. These include the types of crimes that can be bondable, and how the bail bonds process works.

Basically, bail is an incentive to keep defendants from failing to show up for their court hearings (or else they lose the money). It was originally meant to be paid by rich and poor alike, as everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. It was supposed to ensure that no one is stuck in jail while they await trial (because if that happened, it would be unjust). Unfortunately, this hasn’t always worked out. Poor people often have trouble paying their bail and end up staying in jail for long periods of time, while rich people are able to pay their way out. This is a huge problem that needs to be addressed, and the Supreme Court recently did so.

The new ruling states that courts cannot impose bail amounts that a defendant can’t afford, unless they can prove no other less restrictive condition of release can reasonably assure the defendant’s appearance in court or the safety of the community. This is a huge step in the right direction, as it means that presumptively innocent people shouldn’t be held in jail just because they can’t afford to post bail.

Do Bail Bonds Still Exist?

But what does this mean in practice? Well, in most cases, the defendant or their cosigner will work with a San Diego bail bonds. The bail bondsman will charge a fee, which is typically a percentage of the total bond amount. This fee is capped at 10% under California law. The cosigner will then sign a contract agreeing to take on responsibility for the full bond amount if the defendant doesn’t appear in court.

Generally, it is easier for people to secure bail bonds in San Diego than to try to make a cash deposit with the court. This is because most of us don’t have $100,000 lying around, and even if we did, it takes a while to process such a large sum of money. With a bond, the bondsman will usually be able to get your loved one out of jail much more quickly, and the cosigner will only be responsible for a small percentage of the bond amount if the case ends up going to trial. This is a good option for most families, and it can also help to protect your loved one’s credit from the impact of a criminal arrest. This is especially true for domestic violence cases, where false accusations of assault and battery can have a serious impact on employment and rental histories.