Consequences of Missing a Bond Payment Revocation of Bail: The bail bondsman may revoke the bond, leading to immediate arrest and incarceration. Legal Action: The bondsman may take legal action against you to recover the owed amount.
The Bail Eligible Offenses, 2020 Reform Edition Generally, most misdemeanors (but not sex offenses and domestic violence charges); felony drug charges (aside from Operating as a Major Trafficker, PL 220.77; and non-violent felony charges (with exceptions noted above).
California Penal Code Section 825 says that a person arrested in California must be brought before a judge within 48 hours to be charged or released. These rules prevent law enforcement from holding suspects indefinitely while providing sufficient time to collect evidence and decide whether to take the case forward.
In California, each county creates a bail schedule that provides baseline amounts for crimes based on severity. For instance, Riverside County's bail schedule prescribes $3,500 bail for a standard first-offense misdemeanor DUI.
If a defendant cannot afford bail, then at the arraignment or any hearing while still incarcerated the defendant can request a bail reduction or release without bail. That must be supported with evidence that the defendant is unlikely to reoffend or to flee.
In California, a bail bondsman typically has six months to find and return the defendant. If the defendant is not found in the timeframe, you will be responsible for paying not only the full amount of the bond, but also any additional expenses and any unpaid premiums.
Failing to post bond has several consequences: Extended Jail Time: You remain in custody until your court date, ranging from weeks to months. Court Appearances: Regular court appearances are required.
The defendant can post their own bail or ask a family member or friend to post it. If the defendant uses a bond company, the company may require the defendant to have a co-signer (someone who will help the company find the defendant should they fail to appear).
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.
Understanding Bail and Detention Periods Even so, California law prohibits judges from denying bail because you can't afford it. Therefore, judges may release you on your “own recognizance,” which means you take responsibility for attending your trial dates without paying bail.