It is rather a way of securing a defendant's agreement to abide by certain conditions and return to court. In that sense, bail is like collateral left with the court to ensure that, after the defendant's release from jail, he or she will return for the remaining parts of the criminal case.
Bail exists because you're innocent until proven guilty. It doesn't get you out of any potential sentences but it lets you go home and maintain your life until your trial. Without bail you're held in jail until the trial. For crimes like murder or if you're considered a flight risk there won't be any bail offered.
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.
And while some will tell you that you can't remain anonymous, the short answer is actually yes, you can. (But with one major consideration.) The Court is going to need a name and person to return the bond to once the court date has been successfully completed.
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.
Can You Bail Someone Out of Jail Anytime? 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.