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.
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.
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.
No bond or a no bond hold means that the person cannot currently bond out of jail. However this does not mean forever. Certain crimes such as a non-bondable first-degree felony or a punishable by life or a violation of probation may cause the no bond hold.
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.