Bail Setting The judge determines the amount of bail that must be posted for the defendant's release. The bail amount is influenced by various factors, including the severity of the charges, the defendant's criminal history, ties to the community, employment status, and the potential flight risk.
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.
For example, in California, bail bond records are generally public and accessible via the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system.
If a cosigner has doubts about the defendant's ability to fulfill their court obligations and show up for a court date, they can remove their name from a bail bond at any time. However, there are certain circumstances where a cosigner cannot revoke a bail bond.
For example, in California, bail bond records are generally public and accessible via the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system.
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.
For instance, if a judge sets a bail amount of $500,000 for a misdemeanor criminal trespass, that amount would be excessive, given most misdemeanor bail amounts are generally minimal amounts, and certainly well below $500,000.
Number 1 Highest Bail Amount In History- Robert Durst In 2003, Robert Durst found himself in a jail cell with a grand total of 3 billion dollars over his head. The court set his bail this high not only because of the nature of his crimes but also because he was considered a flight risk.
Steep Bail for Very Serious Crimes While felonies have a wide range of bail amounts, the most serious, violent, or dangerous crimes often have bail set at $100,000 or higher. Some examples include: Murder: $1 million or more. Rape: Starting around $250,000 for rape charges.