At the time of writing, there are eight states that do not allow private bail bondsmen (or have very strict policies), namely Washington, D.C, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maine, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Oregon. Additionally, each state has different prerequisites (such as age, criminal history, etc.)
Massachusetts does not have bail bondsmen, so whoever is going to post the bail will have to come up with the entire amount.
In the state of California, bail bond agreements must be verified and certified by the California Department of Insurance. The practice of commercial bail bonds is unlawful in the states of Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
As of 2008, only four states, Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon and Wisconsin, had abolished commercial/for-profit bail bonds by bail bondsmen and required deposits to courts instead. As of 2012 Nebraska and Maine in addition to the aforementioned Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon and Wisconsin prohibited surety bail bonds.
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.
Before giving us a call, make sure you have the following information handy: The full name of the person who was arrested. Where is the person being held for custody (you should include the name of jail, city, and county) The person's booking number.