Factors That Influence Bail Cost Bail of $500,000 or more is not uncommon for serious crimes such as murder, rape, or aggravated assault. It is often based on the type and severity of the charges in criminal defense, as well as the defendant's criminal history and flight risk.
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.
The court can grant bail after considering various factors, such as the nature of the offence, the evidence against the accused person, the likelihood of the accused person absconding, and the possibility of the accused person tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses.
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.
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.
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.
It means there is another case with far more nail or a hold. A judge orders one dollar bail so a person receives credit for time in jail on that case.