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.
No - if you signed the bond it doesn't matter whether you have a job or not - or whether the bondsman asked you if you did. You are liable as surety on the bond - having a job or not has nothing to do with your liability. Sorry.
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.
Prosecutors usually move cases along more slowly when defendants are not in custody. As a result, witnesses can disappear and cases can get stale, so that bailed-out defendants often wind up with better deals. As defense attorneys like to say, "Justice delayed is justice."
Meanwhile, the courts may find 'good cause' in alignment with PC 1382 to delay the trial. This usually relates to complex cases or the discovery of new evidence. As with most states, California has stay-out-of-jail periods lasting between 90 days and 120 days depending on the circumstances of the case.
Bail not only gets you out of jail for the moment, but it is also financial leverage for the offending person to appear in court. If the person appears in court as scheduled, the bail amount is returned. However, should they fail to show in court, they are subject to arrest and the bail amount is forfeited.