When the judge allows bail on your alleged case, you should be happy because you will be out of legal custody to go on with your daily life before your case's closure at trial. While paying bail is an option open to almost every arrestee, some could be disadvantaged if the bail is set too high.
Even if the set bail is not high, using the money you were planning to invest in your business is not worth it if you have other available economical and less stressful ways to clear your court-set bail. One way you can do that is by working with a bail bond agency to post the required bail on your behalf.
In exchange, you promise to return to the scheduled court dates on time to prove your innocence and pay a certain percentage of your court-set or predetermined bail amount as a fee for their services. We at Bail Bonds Company are here for you if you are looking for a quick and affordable way to obtain a pre-release on bail, pending your case's closure or verdict at trial.
We are standing by 24/7 to offer you quick Downey bail bonds services that could be helpful during these stressful times to protect your innocence before receiving a judge's or jurors' judgment on the case at trial.
Reasons Why Jumping Bail is Not Worth It
Once you obtain your jail discharge on bail, the court will expect you to respect the terms of your jail discharge as you wait for the case's trial date. One of the conditions the court will require you to comply with includes availing yourself to challenge the alleged charge on the court-appointed trial date.
While most arrestees jump bail or fail to return to court after receiving a jail discharge on bail, you should think twice before you do so. Below are five (5) reasons why jumping bail is not a good idea:
1. Jumping Bail Can Result in Loss of Money
Once you secure a jail discharge on bail, you will face several questions. One of these questions is whether or not to appear on your court-set hearing dates. While it could seem like a great chance to run away from the possible repercussions of the accused charge conviction, it is advisable not to do so.
With the services of an attorney, you could challenge the alleged charge for the best possible outcome. Not only is it an offense on its own, but jumping bail could also result in significant financial consequences. Typically, when an arrestee jumps bail after receiving a discharge on bail, the judge will forfeit or seize his/her bail money.
If you were out on bond, you would owe the full bail amount to your agency because they will be financially liable for your bail in the eyes of the court. For this reason and other potential consequences you could face, you should think twice before deciding to jump bail after a pretrial jail discharge on bail.
2. You Could End Up Behind Bars Again
Because of the financial obligation the agency will have for your failure to return to court, you should expect them to hunt you down to recover their money. Generally speaking, bond agencies have a legal right to trace arrestees who jump bail for a re-arrest. Since their agents are not skilled in this field, the agency can hire skilled bounty hunters to do this job.
Once you are re-arrested, the police will take you to jail. When that happens, you could remain there until your case's judgment unless your attorney can convince the judge with proper mitigating arguments that you had a reasonable excuse to jump bail.
For instance, a reliable attorney can argue that you had a valid health emergency case, necessitating you remain in the hospital during your case's trial date.
3. The Court Will Less Likely Be Lenient on the Underlying Alleged Case
Although the criminal justice system is typically harsh, jurors or a judge could be considerate or lenient in your case if the alleged charge is non-violent and you are a first-time offender. However, when you decide to jump bail after receiving your jail discharge on bail, the chances are high that the judge will not be lenient on the alleged charge.
The court could also choose not to offer you a plea bargain option. A plea bargaining typically involves pleading "guilty" or "no contest" to the alleged offense in exchange for a lighter charge or case dismissal. Without a plea bargain, a conviction for the accused charge will likely result in severe and long-lasting consequences.
4. A Re-Arrest Will Attract Additional Charges and Penalties
As mentioned above, jumping bail is a crime on its own under Penal Code (PC) 1320.5. In addition to the alleged underlying charge, you could face more criminal charges when you decide to jump bail. If you do not want to add gasoline to the already burning fire, you should avail yourself in court as required once you are out of legal custody on bail.
Generally, if the accused underlying charge is a misdemeanor, a conviction for PC 1320.5 violation will result in misdemeanor penalties, including up to six months in jail.
5. It Appears on Your Criminal Record
Finally, yet importantly, you should consider how a charge or conviction for PC 1320.5 violation looks on your criminal history. Like any other criminal charge, a conviction for PC 1320.5 violation will enter your criminal record, meaning the court can refer to the case when deciding the appropriate cause of action for any charge you could face in the future.
If you have a missed court date on your record, the chances are high that you will be ineligible for future bail requests following an arrest. The reasoning behind this decision is that you could fail to come back to answer and challenge the alleged charges.
Obtaining Downey bail bonds services is one thing, but respecting the terms of this contract or agreement is another thing. Even after your jail discharge, a credible and understanding agency will remain in touch to remind you of your limits and scheduled court dates for an appealing outcome in the alleged case.
What to Expect at the Trial Hearing After Obtaining Downey Bail Bonds Services
Once you are out of legal custody on bond, the court will expect you to avail yourself at the trial hearing to prove your innocence on the alleged charge. Because of the possible consequences and penalties you could face upon conviction at trial, it is wise to attend this hearing with your attorney.
In addition to being your legal counsel, your attorney will be your voice during this tricky stage of the criminal justice system to convince the judge to reduce or dismiss the alleged charge.
Typically, at this court hearing, a team of twelve jurors or a judge will determine whether or not you are innocent of the alleged charge after listening to arguments and evidence from the prosecutor and your attorney. To secure a conviction against you for the alleged charge, the prosecutor's argument and evidence should be convincing beyond a reasonable doubt.
Otherwise, if your defense attorney can raise a doubt about the prosecutor's case against you, the court cannot convict you of the alleged charge. Using eyewitness testimonies, video footage, pictures, and all other relevant evidence, a reliable attorney could convince the court to reduce or drop the alleged charge.
Some of the common defenses that could work out in your favor for a lighter charge or dismissal of the alleged charge include:
- You are a victim of mistaken identity
- The allegations you are up against are false
- You are a victim of police misconduct, for example, entrapment
- Your actions were in self-defense
- The evidence against you is insufficient
The court will dismiss your case if your defense attorney can obtain a "not guilty" verdict at trial using proper and convincing evidence to support the above common and applicable legal defenses. When that happens, the court will dismiss your case and let you go free.
If you had to post bail to obtain a jail discharge upon an arrest, the court would exonerate your bail after your case's judgment. That is true, regardless of the verdict you will receive on the alleged charge.
However, if the judge finds you guilty, your case will move to the sentencing phase to determine an appropriate and fair sentence for the conviction. In most cases, the sentencing hearing could merge with the trial hearing if the court has enough evidence and facts to determine an appropriate sentence for your charge conviction.
For the best possible outcome on the accused charge, you cannot undermine the need to have an attorney on your side during the prosecution process. An experienced attorney will know what will work in your favor and what will not for the best possible on the accused charge.
What it Means When the Court Exonerates Your Bail
Since bail is not a punishment for the alleged charge, you should expect your money back when you comply with all the terms and conditions of your jail discharge, including showing at your court-set hearing dates. After your case judgment, the court presiding over your case will exonerate or discharge your bail, meaning you will no longer have any financial obligation to the court.
Similarly, if you had to use the services of a bond agency, they would be free from the danger or risk of forfeiting their money to the court. It is worth noting that even when the court discharges your bail, you will not receive the ten percent bond premium you had to pay the agency for the speedy and much-need Downey bail bond services.
Possible Conditions or Terms of a Jail Discharge on Bail
Depending on your unique case's facts, the court could require you to abide by the following conditions while on bail:
- Keep the peace and be a law-abiding citizen
- Report to a probation officer regularly
- Avoid traveling out of state or country
- Stay away from particular named individuals, especially if the alleged offense involves assault of another person
- Wear an electronic monitoring/GPS device
- Enroll in a drug and alcohol treatment program
Finally, you must also attend all your court-set hearing dates on time as required while on bail. If you are unsure of your requirements or limits while on bail, you should speak with your bond agency or attorney to clarify the issue to avoid making mistakes that can attract a re-arrest or bail forfeiture.
In most cases, when a re-arrest happens while you are on bail, the chances are high that you could remain in jail until your underlying charge trial date. Therefore, it is a brilliant idea to comply with the conditions and limits of your jail discharge on bail until your case verdict.
Doing so can also increase your chances of qualifying for a less severe charge or dismissal of the case at trial because it shows you are a law-abiding citizen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Regarding Downey Bail Bonds Services
It is not uncommon that most people do not know what to anticipate when it comes to bail bonds and the process of bailing a loved one out of jail. For that reason, they ask related questions regarding bail and the bail bond process, which begins with hiring a bond agency. Below are answers to some of the most FAQs about Downey bail bond services:
I. What is Bail Bond?
A bail bond is typically a contract between you and a bond agency promising to appear on your court-set hearing dates if they pay your bail money. If you fail to keep this promise, you will owe the agency your full bail amount since they already have their money at stake for your freedom.
II. What is the Cost of Bail Bonds Services?
In addition to promising the agency your availability during the appointed court dates, you will also pay them ten percent of your total set bail amount as a premium. Depending on your budget, a reliable agency could provide flexible solutions to make payment of this premium unstressful.
A bond agency could accept you to make payment of their services fee or premium through any of the following ways:
- Credit card
- Bitcoin
- American Express
- Mastercard
- Visa
- Cheque
III. What Do I Need Before Contacting a Bond Agency?
To obtain speedy Downey bail bonds services, you should equip yourself with the following details before you contact your prospective bond agency:
- The address and name of the jail you are in legal custody
- Your booking number
- Your legal names
- Your alleged case bail amount
- Your date and year of birth
IV. What Will Happen if I Do Not Post Bail?
If you decide not to post bail upon an arrest, you will stay in legal custody until the court decides whether or not the bail is necessary at the bail hearing. At this hearing, your attorney can request an OR (Own Recognizance) release where you do not have to post bail or bond to receive your needed freedom.
The decision on whether or not to grant you an OR release will depend on various factors, including:
- Whether or not you are a flight risk
- Your criminal history
- The severity and nature of the allegations that put you in legal custody
Unfortunately, when you are ineligible for an OR release, you will remain in legal custody until your case's closure or judgment which can occur within one week, month, or years after an arrest. Hence, posting bail to receive a pretrial release is an opportunity you cannot overlook upon an arrest, regardless of the severity of the alleged charge.
V. How Will I Know a Reliable Agency From a Mediocre One?
For dependable and prompt Downey bail bonds services, you should hire the best agency in the industry. While there are several agents and agencies in this industry, it does it mean all of them are reliable. A reliable agent must be:
- Licensed
- Experienced
- Reputable
- Available 24/7
Downey Jail and Courthouse Location Information
If you receive news that a loved one is behind bars in Downey, it will help if you find out where he/she is in legal custody and the court where his/her arraignment is likely to occur. Listed below are crucial location information for jail and courthouses in Pasadena, respectively:
Jail Location Information
Downey Police Department
Courthouse Location Information
Downey Courthouse
Find a Reputable Bail Bond Agency Near Me
Apart from being a confusing and stressful experience, an arrest can also result in the need to post bail to receive a jail discharge before your case's trial. That is where bond agents at Bail Bonds Company come in to offer you an alternative and affordable way to post bail, which is often unaffordable.
For quick Downey bail bonds services, you can rely on our understanding and friendly agents to assist you in obtaining the deserved freedom within the shortest time possible. Call us at 323-579-1415 for an obligation-free consultation with our agents to know how we can help you obtain a jail discharge on bond.
