Unquestionably, being under arrest is everyone's worst nightmare. Aside from the potentially life-changing penalties you could face after conviction, being under arrest could attract unexpected financial needs. Unless you are eligible for a release without bail, also known as an Own Recognizance (O.R.) release, the court will expect you to post bail to secure your freedom before trial.
That is where our understanding and able bail bondsmen at Bail Bonds come into play to assist you in posting the often unaffordable bail amount without a hassle during these challenging times. Do not hesitate to contact us if you need quick Indiana Wells bail bonds services to receive your release from the detention facility or jail as your case progresses through various stages of the court system.
How Bail Bonds and Bail Differ From Each Other
"bail bond" and "bail" are often used interchangeably. While both allow an arrestee or defendant to obtain his/her freedom after an arrest, there is a critical distinction between them. A bail bond is a promise that a bail bondsman (third party) makes to the court to assure the judge that you will attend all your upcoming court hearings to challenge the alleged charge.
When you fail to appear at your scheduled court hearings or breach any condition of your pretrial release on bond, the bondsman will be financially accountable for clearing your bail amount. A bail bondsman comes in handy when you cannot afford to bail yourself out of jail using cash or equitable property.
In exchange for the much-needed Indian Wells bail bonds services, you will pay your bondsman ten percent (non-refundable) of the court-set or predetermined bail amount as a premium.
On the other hand, bail is the total amount the court or police require an arrestee to pay after an arrest to have his/her freedom pending his/her case's judgment, which could take weeks, months, or years. Unlike the bail bond's premium, bail is refundable if you comply with the terms and conditions of your release, particularly attending your court-scheduled hearing dates.
What to Expect Before Posting Bail
Although staying behind bars is one of the most traumatizing moments you can experience, you must be patient and adhere to the officer's and court's instructions to obtain your freedom on bail. Upon an arrest, the police will drive you to the nearest sheriff's station for a formal procedure known as “booking,” where the officer in charge will do the following:
- Record your legal name, including aliases and height.
- Record the alleged violation.
- Take your mugshots.
- Take your fingerprints.
- Thoroughly search your person for contraband and any illegal object.
- Confiscate all your items, including belts, watches, necklaces, earrings, and clothes.
After the booking procedure, the officer will hand you a jail uniform and lock you in a detention facility pending your arraignment. If an arrest occurs on a weekend, you could stay behind bars for about twenty hours (24), awaiting your arraignment. At your arraignment hearing, the judge will:
- Inform of the allegations you are up against and your constitutional rights.
- Inform of the available plea choices, including "not guilty," "no contest," and "guilty" plea.
- Determine your eligibility for a release from the detention facility on bail, pending your case's verdict.
If the court grants your bail request, you can post it to the courthouse's clerk using cash or work with a bail bondsman to obtain a bail bond. Your attorney will help you decide the best and most favorable way to obtain your freedom once the court accepts your bail request.
Eligibility for a Release from Jail Without Bail
Sometimes, the judge could release you to go home without posting bail If the alleged crime is an infraction or misdemeanor. Securing your release from jail or a detention facility without bail is an opportunity your attorney cannot overlook when determining the most suitable way to obtain your freedom after an arrest.
Even if the alleged charge has a predetermined bail amount, the court could give you an O.R. release if your defense attorney can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are a low-danger individual. Generally speaking, the judge will consider the factors listed below when determining your eligibility for an O.R. release:
- Whether you are a threat to your community and the public.
- Whether you are a first-time offender or a repeat offender.
- Your disciplinary record.
- Chances of fleeing the state or country after your release.
- What you owe.
- Whether you have family or community ties.
- Whether you have any outstanding active warrants.
- Your financial ability to pay cash bail or bail bond premiums.
While the above factors will come into play when determining your eligibility for an O.R. release, your attorney's arguments will also help the judge make the final decision. A reliable and experienced defense attorney will use evidence and arguments that can work in your favor to increase your odds of obtaining an O.R. release.
How to Find a Trustworthy Indian Wells Bail Bondsman
When your reputation and freedom are at risk, you would not want to settle for any bail bondsman’s services without checking his/her background and work history. Since time is of the essence during these challenging times, the sooner you find a bondsman, the better to secure your release.
Below are a few considerations that can significantly lessen your available options to find a reliable bondsman without delay:
- The bondsman's accessibility.
- The bondsman's reputation.
- Whether the bondsman is legally licensed.
Court Procedures You Should Prepare to Attend After Securing Indiana Wells Bail Bonds Services
As mentioned above, you must attend all the scheduled court hearing dates upon release on bail or bond. Court procedures or hearing dates to expect once you post your bail or bond include the following:
Pretrial Hearing
As the name suggests, a pretrial hearing will occur before your trial date. One of the primary reasons for holding a pretrial proceeding is to give the prosecutor and your attorney a chance to exchange their evidence and find alternative means to resolve the case.
During this phase of the legal justice system, your attorney can also file any of the following motions to obtain the best possible outcome in your case:
- Motion to dismiss.
- Pitchess motion.
- Motion to suppress evidence.
Trial Hearing
Unfortunately, not all criminal cases will end at the pretrial stage. If obtaining a favorable outcome at the pretrial stage is impossible, your case will progress to the trial phase, where a jury or a judge will determine whether you are guilty. The jury or judge will listen to arguments and evidence from the prosecutor and your defense attorney to decide whether or not you are guilty.
If your attorney creates a reasonable doubt on the prosecutor's case against you using clear evidence and proper arguments, the judge will drop or reduce your crime to a less severe charge.
Sentencing Hearing
Unfortunately, when the prosecutor obtains a conviction against you, your case will proceed to the sentencing phase to determine a fair sentence for your offense. When determining the appropriate sentence for your conviction, the judge will consider the following:
- Your offense's severity.
- Your criminal record.
- The prosecutor's aggravating arguments.
- Your attorney's mitigating arguments.
Below are some of the potential penalties you could face upon conviction at trial:
- Incarceration.
- Fines.
- Probation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bail and Indiana Wells Bail Bonds Services
It is common and natural for people in trouble with the law for any alleged offense to ask questions about what they are up against, especially if it is their first time behind bars. Here are some of the common questions arrestees ask about bail and bail bonds:
1. What Will the Court Consider Once I Request a Reduced Bail Amount?
The bail amount the judge will require you to pay can mean the difference between your freedom and staying behind bars as your case continues through various stages of the legal justice system. Therefore, your defense attorney must be ready to request a reduced bail amount to make it hassle-free for you to clear it and secure your freedom.
Some of the ways your defense attorney can request a reduced bail amount include the following:
- Filing a motion to reduce your bail.
- During the arraignment hearing, you can request a lower bail amount.
- Providing evidence to show a change in circumstances is critical to your case.
With clear and convincing evidence and arguments, the court could offer you the minimum bail amount for your offense, especially when you are a first-time offender.
2. Can the Court Deny My Request for a Release on Bail?
In some cases, the judge presiding over your case can decide to deny your bail application. While every defendant has the right to post bail to protect his/her innocence as the alleged case continues, the court could deny your bail request for the following reasons:
- The alleged offense is a capital crime, for example, murder, treason or mayhem.
- You have no respect in court.
- The alleged violation is a violent or sex offense.
- You are a flight risk.
- You have a history of skipping bail upon your release from the detention facility.
- You have no family or community ties.
- You have a criminal record.
3. What Options Do I Have for Posting Cash Bail?
Upon an arrest, you can settle your bail using cash, which the court's clerk will expect you to pay in full to secure your freedom. If posting cash bail is the most convenient and fastest way to obtain your freedom, you can do so using any of the following payment methods:
- Cashier's check.
- Traveler's check.
- Money order.
- Personal check.
- Paypal.
- Credit card.
- Western Union.
4. Can the Court Refuse to Take My Cash Bail?
While you have a right to pay cash to secure your release from a detention facility upon an arrest, the judge could refuse to take the money if he/she:
- Suspect the money comes from fraudulent or illegal activity.
- Suspect the money is likely proceeds from an illegal activity, like drug sales.
When that happens, you, as the defendant, must prove to the court that the money you intend to use to clear your bail comes from a legitimate source. If that is impossible, you should explore other ways to obtain your freedom, including:
- Posting a bail bond.
- Posting a surety or property bond.
5. What Do You Need When Posting Another Person's Bail?
If you have received a call to inform you that your loved one is in police custody, you do not have to fret. Instead, you can help him/her obtain his/her freedom by posting cash bail or working with a bail bondsman to obtain Indian Wells bail bonds services. Aside from being 18 years old or older, you must bring the following when posting your loved one's bail:
- Your recent utility bail to show the bondsman your residency.
- A recent paycheck stub or any other document that can prove you have a steady income.
- A legit identification, for example, your driver's license.
Aside from the above requirement, you must provide the following information to the bail bondsman if you want to cosign your friend's or loved one's bail bond:
- The defendant's date of birth.
- The charges the defendant is up against.
- The defendant's jail booking number.
- The name of the detention facility or jail where the defendant is in custody.
6. What is the Location of Jails and Courthouses in Indian Wells?
If your loved one is behind bars or under arrest and needs Indian Wells bail bonds services, the information below will come in handy:
Jail Location
Riverside County Jail
Courthouse Location
Riverside Family Law Courthouse
Find 24/7 Indian Wells Bail Bonds Services Near Me
While you can pay your bail using cash, using the services of a bail bondsman could be advantageous in many ways. Aside from offering you bail bond services, a reliable and experienced bail bondsman can offer you legal advice and tips to help you stay on the safest side of the law as your case continues.
For speedy Indian Wells bail bonds services, you can count on our profound and understanding bail bondsmen at Bail Bonds. We invite you to call us at 323-579-1415 and let our seasoned bondsmen handle every step of the confusing bail bond process to secure your much-needed freedom without wasting time.
