If a defendant cannot afford bail, then at the arraignment or any hearing while still incarcerated the defendant can request a bail reduction or release without bail. That must be supported with evidence that the defendant is unlikely to reoffend or to flee.
California Penal Code Section 825 says that a person arrested in California must be brought before a judge within 48 hours to be charged or released. These rules prevent law enforcement from holding suspects indefinitely while providing sufficient time to collect evidence and decide whether to take the case forward.
After an arrest in Pennsylvania, a criminal defendant is taken before a Magisterial District Judge (MDJ) who sets the bail amount. If the defendant pays the bail amount or uses a bail bond service, he or she will be released from jail while awaiting further developments in the case.
People in this situation may be able to obtain a release on their own recognizance, which means that they can get bail without paying bond. A defendant will need to sign a written promise to show up at their scheduled court appearance.
If arrested or called in for questioning, California Penal Code Section 825 states that defendants must be brought before a judge within 48 hours to determine whether they will be charged or released. In other words, you can be held for 48 hours without charges.