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.
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.
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."
Yes! In California, bonds can be posted twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week. But whether you can bail someone out of jail at any time depends on their situation. When someone is arrested, they have a first appearance soon after.
Bail is a way to allow you to get out of jail between the day you were arrested and the day your trial is set for. This gap can be months or even years, so people don't want to spend that time in jail when they plan on fighting a case.
The bail amount is based on the crime(s) for which the individual is arrested as well as his or hire criminal history. For example, misdemeanor bail typically starts at $5,000 – $10,000. Felony bail starts at $25,000 and increases depending on the seriousness and number of charges.
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.