West Covina City
Link: www.westcov.org
Bail-Bonds-Los-Angeles.com, a division
of Binder’s Bail Bonds,
is a family owned and operated California bail agency proudly serving California. We
pride ourselves on providing exceptional service in a caring, confidential, dignified
manner.
We operate 24 hours a day
every day of the year. We are always available for questions, comments or concerns during
any part of the bail process. Our goal is to assist families and friends to the best of
our ability. All of our agents understand the stress and potential awkwardness of
contacting a bail agency. Bail-Bonds-Los-Angeles.com makes bailing a friend or
loved one fast and easy.
Our purpose for explaining who we are is to
demonstrate that we are kind, hard-working, community-based citizens here to assist you
and your loved ones in your time of need.
Call us at 1-800-957-2245 24 hours for
assistance
Email us at info@bail-bonds-los-angeles.com
for immediate bail bonds assistance for all Los Angeles cities.
How does bail work?
When an individual is arrested for a crime in the State of
California, typically that person will be taken to a local law enforcement station for
booking, prior to incarceration in a station lock-up or county jail. Once arrested and
booked, the defendant has several options for release pending the conclusion of his or her
case. Bail is designed to guarantee the appearance of a defendant in court at the time the
judge directs.
What are the release options if someone
is arrested?
There are five basic release options available. The five
options are:
Cash Bail
Cash bail means a person must give the court or jail the
total amount of the bail in cash. The cash will be held by the court until the
defendant appears to all of his/her court cases and the case is concluded. Full cash bonds
provide a powerful incentive for the defendant to appear in court. If the defendant
appears for all of his/her scheduled court appearances, the cash bail should be returned
in full.
Surety Bond
An alternative to cash bail is a surety bond. This
process involves a contractual undertaking guaranteed by an admitted insurance company
having adequate assets to satisfy the face value of the bond. The bail agent
guarantees to the court that they will pay the bond forfeiture if a defendant fails to
appear for their scheduled court appearances. The bail agent’s guarantee is made
through a surety company and/or by pledging property owned by the bail agent.
For this service, the defendant is charged a premium
(typically 10% of the bail amount in California). For example, if the bail amount in
$10,000.00, the premium charged is $1,000.00. Prior to the posting of the surety bond, the
defendant, friend or relative must contact a licensed bail agent. You can contact us
toll-free at 1-800-957-2245. Once a bail agent is
contacted, an interview or appointment will be immediately scheduled.
By involving the family and friends
of a defendant, as well as through the acceptance of collateral, the bail agent can be
reasonably assured that the defendant released on a surety bond will appear to all of
his/her court appearances.
After this procedure is completed, the bail agent will post
a bond for the full bail amount, financially guaranteeing the defendant’s return to
court as scheduled.
With money on the line, the bail agent has a financial
interest in supervising bailees, and ensuring that they appear in court each end every
time the court orders them to appear. If the defendant does not appear in court (skips),
the bail agent has time and the financial incentive to find the defendant and bring
him/her to court.
Property Bond
In rare cases an individual may be released by posting a
property bond with the court. With a property bond, the court records a lien on the
property to secure the bail amount. If the defendant fails to appear in court as
scheduled, the court may foreclose on the property to obtain the forfeited bail amount.
Release on Own Recognizance (O.R.)
Another method of release, pending trial, is through a
county or law enforcement administered pre-trial release program. Usually, the
employees of these programs interview defendants in custody and make recommendations to
the court regarding the release of these individuals on their own recognizance (i.e.,
without any financial security to insure the defendant’s return).
The interview process is often conducted over the
telephone, usually with little inquiry into the defendant’s background. The interview
process attempts to determine whether the detainee is likely to appear in court. There is
usually no verification of information provided by the defendant. Since no money, property
or bond is posted to secure the defendant’s appearance in court, he/she faces no
personal economic hardship from the conscious decision not to appear in court.
Release on Citation (Cite Out)
This procedure involves the issuance of a citation by
the arresting officer to the arrestee, informing the arrestee that he/she must appear in
court at an appointed court date.
The "Cite Out" usually occurs immediately after
an individual is arrested. As a consequence of the failure to follow complete booking
procedures, the true identity and background of most individuals released on citation is
never established. This results in the release of numerous arrestees who may have
outstanding bench warrants pending or who may present a significant danger to society.
Accordingly, in those cases involving "Cite
Outs", the arrestee may never be placed in custody. Like the Own Recognizance (O.R.)
release, the defendant’s appearance in court depends exclusively on the integrity of
the defendant voluntarily returning to court as ordered by the court.
How much does a bail bond (surety bond)
cost?
In California, the bail premium (fee) is typically 10% of
the full bail amount. For example, if the bail amount is $10,000.00, the premium charged
is $1,000.00.
How much of the premium will I get back?
Typically the 10% premium is fully earned once the bail
bond is posted with a jail or court. That is how bail agents and their surety companies
make their money and pay their bills.
What is collateral?
Collateral is anything of value used to financially secure
a bail bond.
What can be used as collateral?
Some examples of collateral include houses, cars, boats,
jewelry, electronic equipment (you get the idea).
When will collateral be returned?
Collateral is usually returned when the court finishes with
the defendant’s case(s), exonerating the bail bond(s), and when all fees have been
paid.
How long does it take to get released from
jail?
There are two types of jails. There are city jails operated
by city police departments and there are county jails operated by the county sheriff.
After a defendant is booked into a city jail (i.e.: fingerprinted, photographed, warrants
checked, etc.), it typically takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour to be released on
bail. After a defendant is booked into a county jail, it usually takes anywhere from 2 to
8 hours and up to 24 hours to be released on bail. We wish we could speed up the process
but the city and county jails operate at their own pace. Binder’s Bail Bonds
does everything possible to expedite the bail release. Let us assure you we will be by
your side every step of the way.
