Failing to post bond has several consequences: Extended Jail Time: You remain in custody until your court date, ranging from weeks to months. Court Appearances: Regular court appearances are required.
Bail information is considered public record in the State of California, meaning that anyone (not only defendants themselves) can request this info. The details can be accessed via the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system or the Criminal Intake Section.
Best-case scenario: Release within 30 minutes to 2 hours after posting bail during regular business hours. More typical scenario: Release within 4-8 hours, especially during off-peak hours or weekends. Worst-case scenario: Release could be delayed for 24 hours or more in complex cases or due to logistical hurdles.
Anyone can post your bail bond. Usually you will go through a bail bondsman so you put up a small percentage of the bail, but you forfeit that once the bond a returned. To qualify you need to have credit and collateral. If your bail bond is $100K ...
Bail bond agents can carry firearms (like regular citizens) and make arrests in California. However, they do not have the same power as police officers to investigate crimes, enforce traffic laws, or cordon off specific areas.