Bail Bonds in Simi Valley, CA

Bail Bonds

One of the most frightening places you can find yourself in is inside a jail cell after you have been arrested and charged with an alleged crime. In return, you will be allowed to walk free even if you are still undergoing trial for a criminal or civil charge. Otherwise, you will sit in jail while waiting for the court to rule on either conviction or acquittal. Either that or the accused may opt to hire the services of a bail bondsman.

You are allowed at least one phone call after your arrest. Use that to connect with a loved one and request him or her to contact a bail bond agent. But there’s a legal way to earn your temporary freedom even when your case is ongoing.

What Exactly is a Bail Bond?

The law allows a commercial bonding company to post a bail bond, also known as surety bond, to help those arrested and accused of a crime gain temporary liberty while they wait for their court hearing.

With the surety, the bail bond company in Simi Valley is answerable to the court if the defendant flees. In this form of surety, the defendant has to present his or herself before the court during the trial and agree to pay the fines and penalties that come with the charge.

Civil bail bonds are intended for civil cases. They serve to guarantee payment of debts, interest, and other costs that may be charged against the defendant.

How Helpful Is a Bail Bond?

If you can afford to post bail on your own, you certainly don’t need to hire a bail bondsman. In most states, the rate for a bail bond is at 10% of the bail amount, which gives you an affordable opportunity to get released from jail. If you fail to show up in court, the court will forfeit the bail bond posted by the company. In any case, you need not bother yourself with the financial calculations now.

Another reason why you should consider using a bonding company is the fact that they simplify the infamous and equally complicated judicial process. The process is simple, easy, and foolproof, and it begins with a call to the bail agent during which time you give the desired information concerning the person up for bail, and the company takes care of the bail for you. If you had remained in jail for failure to post a bail bond, you would have appeared in court in a jail jumpsuit—and that’s not a pretty sight to see. Third, because of their familiarity with the process, you can be out of jail in a matter of hours instead of days.

We all know first impressions are the most lasting, so it probably is a good idea to appear before a judge as a responsible member of the community in civilian clothes, instead of showing up in a jail jumpsuit. A bail bondsman can help you with this so you will look your best in the presence of a judge. In contrast, when you are out on bail, you can dress smartly and make a good impact on the court.

For good measure, the bail bondsman will also give you tips on how to impress the judge. Sometimes, this works to reduce your bail amount.

How Does the Bail Bonds Process Work?

The bail bonds process typically begins with your search for a qualified bail agent. We have a shortlist of names that have proven themselves out in the field. You can make an appointment through a phone call or email.

As soon as the bail agent has clarified your concerns, the bail agent will proceed with the requirements in order to release your loved one at the earliest possible time. It's now the agent's turn to ask you questions and they include the name of the suspect, date of birth as well as the time and location of the arrest.

When the bondsman posts the amount, the clerk of court will then issue a bail ticket which will be given to the law enforcement officers who will then release the defendant from custody.

What Information Should I Have When Contacting a Bail Bondsman?

If you are going to get in touch with a bonding company, have the following data ready:

• The defendant’s full name
• The name of the jail where the defendant is placed
• The booking number
• The charges
• Any other piece of information you think is necessary

The Collateral That a Bondsman Can Accept

There is no need to worry if you do not have tons of cash for the services of a bail bondsman because there is another way you can “buy” your loved one’s freedom without necessarily paying in cash. There is such a thing called collateral which you can put up as a form of guarantee. Now as to the type of collateral, the list is just too long to mention all.

Below are just some examples:

• Real estate
• Cars
• Credit cards
• Stocks
• Bonds
• Jewelry
• Personal credit
• Bank accounts

If you find that the bond is too steep, bail bonds companies have financial payment options in place that you can avail.

The bail bonds process does not have to sound complicated, and rest assured that there are bonding companies willing to serve your needs anytime. Most of them operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all the more to help your loved one to spend the least amount of time in jail as possible. That will greatly help ease up the burden as you fight for your life.