Court Hearings and Bail Reduction If you're unable to afford bail, another route is requesting a bail reduction during a court hearing. Legal representation can argue on your behalf, presenting factors such as lack of criminal history, strong community ties, and employment status.
If a person can't make bail in Sacramento, they must remain in jail until their case eventually goes to trial. The so-called “pretrial detention” period — the time between when a person is arrested and their case reaches a courtroom for a trial — can take anywhere from several weeks to several years.
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.
Some examples of typical bail amounts for common crimes are: Petty theft: $50 to $1,000. DUI: $500 to $10,000. Assault: $1,000 to $50,000. Murder: $1 million or more.
Own Recognizance (OR) – Release on the condition you return to court. Supervised Own Recognizance (SORP)- Release under the supervision of a pretrial officer.