Bailing someone out of jail who has a history of untrustworthy behavior can create headaches. You're essentially agreeing to put up 10 percent of a bail bond that could be tens of thousands — or even hundreds of thousands — of dollars. If they fail to show, then you went to all that extra trouble for nothing.
Bail Bonds and Credit Scores It's a common misconception that co-signing for a bail bond will ruin your credit. In reality, a bail bond won't affect your credit score in any way. However, bail bond companies may conduct a credit check before allowing you to get a bail bond to make sure that you're a reliable co-signer.
The decision to post bail for someone should not be taken lightly. Financially, you risk losing the bail amount or collateral if the defendant fails to appear in court. Legally, the defendant's absence can lead to arrest warrants and additional charges, complicating their legal situation further.
If you did not surrender your bond slip in the courtroom, you may bring the bond slip or the bond number(s), to the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington St., Room 1006. A receipt of the transaction will be provided to you for your records. Refund checks are mailed to the address indicated on the bail bond form.
If you get into a fight and it isn't serious, it is probably going to be a misdemeanor. The bail for a simple bar fight that is a misdemeanor may be between $2000 and $2500. If you used a bail bonds service, then you might owe about $200 to $250 to the bondsman.
California's statewide Penal Code also provides minimum bail amounts for certain crimes. If a county hasn't adopted a schedule, the statewide figures apply. For misdemeanor assault, for example, the Code mandates $10,000 minimum bail.