When you or your loved one faces jail time, the last thing you would like to hear is that you are being transferred. At Bail Bonds, our clients work directly with an agent. We believe that connecting a client with an agent saves time and hassles. With locations all over Orange County, you will have a professional agent by your side no matter where your bail is set. Whenever you contact us, we will connect you with a Tustin agent fast.
Industry’s Best And Most Experienced Agents
We are composed of the industry's best, most experienced, and most trusted agents. We believe in raising the standards in the bail bond industry. We have the largest network of agents in Tustin and Orange County at large. This means that you can always access bail anywhere, any time. Our services are fast and reliable. We understand the stress that comes with facing an arrest. We do not want to make the process harder for you.
Things To Know About California Bail Bonds
If you have never posted bail before, you probably have many questions about the process of posting bail and how the process works. Below are some of the essential facts that you need to understand about the California process of posting bail:
- No matter what happens in court, even if your case is dropped, bail bond fees are non-refundable. The fee you pay to an agent is not refundable irrespective of the outcome of your case.
- The California state law sets the cost of purchasing bonds. All companies are required by the law to charge the same rate. Usually, companies charge a premium of 10% of the bail amount. This premium is the same irrespective of whether you are arrested in Orange County or Los Angeles. However, some companies may charge a lower premium, mainly if your criminal defense attorney refers you to them. Some companies may charge as low as 8% of the bail amount. However, it is unlawful for a bail company to charge a premium of more than 10%.
- You do not have to pay the entire bail premium in full or upfront, as most people often assume. Neither do you have to pay the full premium in cash! Our bail bondsmen accept many forms of payments, including travelers' checks. If you cannot raise the full bail fee, many companies have flexible payment schedules to enable you to pay the amount conveniently.
- You can post bail at any time of day or night. This explains why many companies provide 24/7 bail services. You can always access our agents at any time, including at night, on holidays, and on weekends.
- You do not have to work with the first company you come across. However, you should do your homework. If you are not comfortable with the first bail bondsman or company, call another agent. You should always ensure that you work with a trustworthy, professional, and reliable company.
24/7/365 Availability
At Bail Bonds, you can reach our Tustin agents in person, on the phone, or through our website. An agent will meet you at your home, office, police station, city or county jail, or at our office. We handle a wide range of criminal offenses. You can count on us to help you post bail if you face charges for: DUIs, violation of restraining orders, drug crimes, domestic violence, battery, criminal threats, corporal injury, frauds, sexual battery, and forgery among others. In addition, you can always count on us for:
- Low bail bond rates
- All bail amounts, both large and small
- Financing options
- No collateral or cosigner options
- All types of bonds, including court, jail, and appearance
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
Our agents are proficient in both English and Spanish. Part of our mission is to offer free bail information to our clients or the public. We understand that the bail process can be confusing, especially if it is your first time to post bail. We know that the better educated our clients are, the more informed bail decisions they can make.
Information and knowledge are crucial in understanding the bail process. You can count on our agents to provide you with any bail information you need. We understand the importance of acting quickly while posting bail. However, we also understand the importance of ensuring that our clients understand every step of the bail process.
We strive to take the shortest time to educate our clients and post bail to ensure that the defendant is home quickly. Our many years of experience with county jails and bail clerks in Tustin mean that we will get your loved one out of jail as soon as possible. We pride ourselves on our unmatched reputation in the bail industry. We are consistently highly rated by our clients. We get most of our clients from referrals from our happy clients. We always seek to provide discrete, courteous, and confidential service.
The Process of Posting Bail
When a defendant is arrested on suspicion of committing a crime, the suspect is taken to jail for booking. The police will search the suspect for any weapons; take their mugshot and fingerprints. The law enforcement officers catalog and retain the suspect's personal belongings from that point. Therefore, the suspect will not have access to their money, cell phones, or credit cards.
Booking a suspect in jail has several steps and often takes between one hour to several hours to complete. How fast the booking process is will vary depending on the jail size and how busy it is. The booking process mainly involves:
- Conducting a background check
- A warrant check
- Updating the computer system with the suspect information and the criminal charge
The suspect is taken to a cell once he or she is processed in. The defendant will have a right to one phone call. At this time, the defendant can contact a bail company directly or request a friend or family member to post bail on their behalf.
Contacting A Bail Bondsman
The defendant, their friend, or a family member may contact the bail company. The bail process can only start after the arrest, and the booking processes are complete. The bail company usually starts the bail process by gathering basic information about the defendant. This helps the company to assess the risk involved in posting bail.
Some of the information that the company may gather include where the defendant is being detained, the crime they have committed, how long they have been in jail, their place of work, and any other relevant information. The company will avail the bail bond for purchase after ascertaining that there is little to no risk of the detainee failing to appear for the scheduled court appearances.
The client seeking the bond will have to sign several documents, including:
- The bond application
- An indemnity agreement
The bail bondsman will post the bail at the appropriate detention facility or jail after finalizing all the necessary paperwork. From when a client contacts a bail company to when the defendant gets out of jail, there is a waiting period of 20 minutes to two hours. Therefore, the process of acquiring a bond is fairly quick and convenient. Companies do their best to have the paperwork processed and finalized within a short period to avoid keeping the detainee waiting.
When The Bailee Misses Court
The company that posts bonds for a criminal defendant ensures that the defendant attends the set court hearings. If the defendant doesn’t attend the court hearing, the surety bond company hires a bounty hunter to track the defendant. The court may give the company some time to track the defendant and bring them to court.
If you post the bond for your loved one, it is essential to ensure that you understand the indemnitor responsibility before you sign the bond. If the defendant does not show up in court, the bond company will contact or visit you, expecting you to know the defendant's location or whereabouts. The bail bondsman may even need your help in presenting the defendant to court.
The bond company usually ensures that the defendant will show up in court after release by involving the defendant's family, friends, or even collateral. Given that their money is at risk, the surety bond company has a financial incentive to supervise the bailee as well as the person who posted bail on the defendant's behalf.
When The Deal Is Too Good
You should be wary of a bondsman who offers very cheap bond services. Under California law, bond companies should charge a bail premium ranging between 8% and 10%. If a company charges very low fees, say 5% of the bail amount, this should serve as a red flag.
Charging very low prices is against the law; it is an unethical means of selling bonds. Reliable bail bond companies offer flexible payment options to enable clients to pay the bail premium. These companies always work within the law and can’t promise you what they can’t deliver.
Many unreliable companies use the bait and switch approach to attract customers. For example, they promise very low prices only for customers to discover other hidden charges after falling for their trap.
At Bail Bonds, we tell it as it is and provide our clients with all the necessary information and payment options they require to have the defendant released from jail. We accept all major credit cards, money orders, personal checks, and cash. We encourage you to contact us today to schedule a bond for your loved one at an affordable price.
When A Surety Bond Is Not An Option
There are times when the defendant has no option of posting a bond. A defendant can only be released from jail if there are no detainers or other holds on them. A hold or detainer is placed on a defendant by a government agency, requiring the defendant to remain in jail pending the clearance of the hold.
For example, if the defendant has pending charges from another jurisdiction or state, there may be a warrant placed against the defendant. If a defendant has pending or unpaid traffic tickets, the defendant may have to remain in jail until the tickets are paid off in money or jail time.
The judge may also be reluctant to release a defendant on bail if they suspect that they will not attend the scheduled court hearings. If the judge feels that the defendant will be a threat to themselves or the public, they may be reluctant to post bail. If the judge denies the defendant bail, the defendant will not qualify for pretrial release. Instead, they will remain in custody while their case is pending.
Choosing The Right Bail Bond Company
It is understandable to try and get your friend or family member out of jail as soon as possible. However, you should not just run to the first bondsman that you come across. You will want to ensure that you choose a qualified agent who will get the job done right the first time. Here are some of the qualities of a good bondsman or company:
Flexibility And Availability
Many criminal arrests do not happen within the 9 am to 5 pm timeline. When you need to post bail, you need immediate assistance. Be sure that the bail bondsman you choose can help you at any time, including at night, on weekends, and on holidays. If a bondsman is not willing to fight for your freedom day and night, you should probably not choose them at all.
Experience In The Industry
How long a bondsman has been providing surety bonds also matters. The longer an agent has been in business, the better and more reliable they are. It means that the agent has provided honest and affordable services to their community for a long time. Ensure that the company you choose has a couple of years with its doors open.
Affordable Fees
You should find out beforehand regarding the fees that an agency charges before you post bail through them. If a company charges a bail premium of more than 10%, you should look for another company. However, you should also avoid companies that charge very low premiums.
Flexible Payment Options
Like many people, you do not budget for having to post bail. Therefore, when the need arises, the bail must be affordable. Choose a company that has flexible payment options and plans. A good company should also offer extended payment plans to ensure that its services are affordable to clients. If you need to post an affordable bond in Tustin and the surrounding areas, contact Bail Bonds. We have helped people get their loved ones out of jail for many years by providing fast and reliable services.
Court Information
Superior Court of California of the County of Orange
Jail Information
Orange County Central Men’s Jail
Find A Tustin Bail Bondsman Near Me
When your loved one is in jail, your focus is to get them out of jail as soon as possible. Bail Bonds is ready to get your loved one out of jail in the shortest time possible if they are arrested in Tustin. Call us at 323-579-1415 and talk to one of our bondsmen.
