If you’re wondering how to get out of jail in California (and not in Monopoly), then you’ve come to the right place. Getting out of jail can be a stressful and confusing process, so it’s important to find local experts to help you out. More specifically, you’ll want tofind a local bail bond company(and maybe even a lawyer if the charge necessitates it).
How can a bail bond agent help you get out of jail?
When you’re arrested for a crime, odds are you’ll be assigned a bail amount by the court. Bail could be assigned immediately or it could be assigned after seeing a judge (which could take up to 24 hours).
If you can post bail, then you’ll be free to go home. If you cannot, you’ll have to remain in jail until your next court date. Bail is used as an incentive to get the defendant to return to court, which means that your bail amount will be returned if you don’t skip your court date.
However, bail can sometimes be out of reach for the average person, which is why bail bond companies exist. A bail bond company can work with you or a close friend or family member, guide you through the bail process, and get you out of jail quickly. Usually, a bail bond company will take over the whole process on behalf of the defendant and their family, which can speed things up and create less confusion.
Keep in mind, working with a bail bond company is not free. You will be required to pay a non-refundable percentage of your bail to the bail bond company. And in some cases, you’ll also be required to put up some form of collateral.
In some situations, people could be granted an OR release (own recognizance release). This usually only happens if the crime committed is minor, and the person has a relatively clean criminal history. With an OR release, you won’t be required to post bail or remain in jail until your court date — you simply sign some paperwork, and you’re allowed to return home.
Cowboy Bail Bonds can help you get out of jail in California
Need help getting out of jail and posting your bail? Give us a call at 661.324.6009 or fill out our online form to get immediate help. We are available 24/7 to help you or your loved ones make bail and get out of jail quickly.
When a loved one is arrested, you might be wondering, “What is an own recognizance release and how do you qualify for one?”
This is a common question (even if people don’t actually know the term “own recognizance” or “OR”). Because if you’re not asking, “What is an OR bond?”, then you’re likely asking, “Can I be released from custody without posting a cash bond?” These two questions are one and the same.
If you’re required to post a bond, it’s usually not cheap, and it’s this way on purpose. The court needs to give you a bigger incentive to return to court on the appropriate day. If you don’t, your bond will not be returned. If you do, you get all your money back.
Even though bail bond companies will post bail on your behalf, you’re still required to pay a percentage of the bond to thebail bond company. And you may even need cosigners who will be responsible for the full amount if you skip your court date. For some people, cosigners and even the bail bond fee are out of reach — which is why an own recognizance release is often requested.
Who qualifies for an own recognizance release?
The court believes you do not require cash bond to return to court
The individual has not been charged with an offense punishable by death
The individual will not be a threat to public safety
Keep in mind, most people charged with felonies will not be granted an OR. If it’s your first-offense and you’ve been charged with a low-level offense, it’s a possibility that you could be granted an OR after a background check.
What happens if you don’t get an OR?
If you don’t get an OR and you are required to post a cash bond, then you’ll likely need to reach out to a bail bond company. A bail bond agent can help you through the bail process and get you released from jail quickly. Take a look at some helpful links below to learn more about the bail bond process.
Why do bail bonds work and are they good for society? This is a question many people have started asking over the last few years. They’re wondering whether or not the bail system can be transformed into something else entirely and if bail bonds are even necessary.
Here’s the deal: the bail system and bail bonds do what they’re intended to do. While everything can obviously be improved upon, the goal of the bail system is achieved time and time again every day in America.
Let’s take a quick look at the top reasons bail bonds work and are good for society (and yes, even people who have been arrested).
Bail gives people another reason to go to court
Bail is typically not cheap, and many people often don’t have the resources readily available to post bail on their own. However, this is done on purpose. Bail needs to be high because it gives people the urgent incentive to go back to court. If they do so, they get their bail money back. If they don’t, they forfeit that money.
Imagine bail being set at something as low as $50 or imagine there being no bail at all. Why would people feel the urgency to attend court? Sure, a warrant for your arrest might be issued — but in some cases, this doesn’t mean much. But losing out on $10,000? That means a lot.
Bail bonds give people the opportunity to post bail
Bail can be viewed as a terrible part of the legal system and as a device that keeps poor people in prison. However, this is far from reality.
As we just mentioned, how terrible would it be to forfeit $10,000? But what if you can’t afford that $10,000 to begin with? Then you’re stuck in jail while you await trial (which could take several months), and to make matters worse, you could be innocent.
This is where bail bonds come in.
Bail bonds were created to give people lacking the necessary bail funds to post bail. Even though the bail bond agency is paid a small percentage of the total bail amount, this still beats sitting in a jail cell.
Plus, the incentive to go to court is still there. In the majority of cases, bail bond companies require co-signers. Co-signers are typically family members or close friends. If you don’t show up to court, that person will be wholly responsible for the full bail amount (not just the percentage initially paid to the bail bond company).
Long story short, not only does the bail system make it more likely for those arrested to attend court, but the bail system also helps those lacking funds to post bail. So, yes — bail is expensive, but that doesn’t mean only rich people can post it.
The current bail system avoids racial profiling and stereotypes
As it stands, a judge determines what your bail amount will be. They scrutinize your current situation with past behavior to determine your flight risk.
In the past, groups have pushed forward ideas to take away bail and replace it with an algorithm that determines flight risk. Only those that receive a high rating will remain in jail as they await trial. Others can await trial at home. No bail required.
However, what many people don’t understand is that this algorithm will be based on stereotypes and profiling. This will likely only negatively impact underprivileged people. Richer individuals who have never committed a crime openly will be rated as a very low risk, while poorer individuals with even minor stains on their records will be rated as a high risk.
A judge can use his or her best judgement to compassionately determine flight risk and assign a fair bail amount in the process. An algorithm with no bail required cannot do this.
Want to learn more about the bail bond process?
Check out our additional resources to learn more about bail bond agents and the bail bond process as a whole:
If your friend or loved one has been arrested, then you’ll likely need to figure out how to find ‘bail bonds near me.’ While being arrested can be a stressful process, finding a reliable bail bond agency does not have to be. In fact, tracking down a bail bond agent can be a quick and painless process. Here are a few simple ways to find a local bail bond company.
Take a drive downtown
In many cities, bail bond companies like to shack up next to the police station and/or courthouse. Odds are, if you take a drive downtown, you’ll likely come across one or two bail bond companies. If you find yourself looking for a bail bond company during off-hours, don’t be deterred. The majority of bail bond companies are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Jot down their phone number, and give them a call (even if it is midnight on a Saturday). They’ll most likely answer.
Google it
If you decide to search for a bail bond agency online, consider limiting your search to only the first page. The top 5-10 results will show you the most popular and most relevant bail bond agencies near you. If you really want to drill down to the most reliable agency, check out the reviews located at the top of your Google search results. If you’re on a mobile device, these will show up right underneath the map at the top of the search results.
Look for the number of reviews, as well as the quality of reviews. Stick to an agency with a rating of 4 stars or more and make sure the agency has a good amount of reviews (unless you notice that all of the agencies near you don’t have very many Google reviews). If this is the case, then it likely just means that your surrounding community isn’t very active on Google and doesn’t tend to review local businesses.
Ask your Facebook friends
Unless you’d rather keep your current situation under wraps, Facebook is a great place to seek out recommendations from people you trust. You’d be surprised how many people have experience dealing with bail bonds and the prison system as a whole. Facebook also has a specific style post for people seeking recommendations, which allows for your friends to tag places and businesses within their comments easier than in traditional posts.
Want to learn more about bail bond companies?
Check out our additional resources to learn more about bail bond agents and the bail bond process as a whole:
If you’re wondering, “What is a bail bonds agent?”, then you’ve either seen a show about a bounty hunter or you need to bail someone out of jail. Luckily for you, we’ve got the answer to this question. Let’s break it down now.
What is a bail bonds agent?
A bail bond agent works for a bail bond company and gives a defendant the opportunity to avoid jail as they await their court date. A bail bond agent typically has to be licensed or educated in order to write bail bonds.
Is a bail bond agent the same thing as a bounty hunter?
No, a bail bond agent is not the same thing as a bounty hunter. Bounty hunters require different education and licensing, and although a bail bond agent and bounty hunter may work together from time to time, their jobs are very different.
A bail bond agent helps a defendant get out of jail as they await trial, and a bounty hunter will return that defendant to jail if that person fails to appear at their trial. A bail bond agent will pay a bounty hunter a percentage of the bail amount in return for their services.
How does a bail bond agent get paid?
As a defendant awaits trial, the court may give that defendant the option to post bail. This means the defendant can pay a refundable fee to the court in order to await their trial at home (as opposed to inside a jail cell). If the defendant can’t afford bail, they can work with a bail bond agent. A bail bond agent will charge the defendant a non-refundable percentage of the bond, and they will post the full bail amount to the court. Eventually, the bail bond agent will have the bail amount refunded to them by the court, and they will also keep the percentage initially paid by the defendant. This is how a bail bond agent makes money.
Want to learn more about bail bond agents?
Check out our additional resources to learn more about bail bond agents and the bail bond process as a whole:
When you’re faced with the option to post bail, you might be wondering, “Are bail bonds returned?” Since bail can be quite a bit of money, it’s only natural to wonder whether or not you’ll be getting some, all, or none of that money back.
Bail bonds are returned. Here’s how it works.
When it comes to bail, you normally have two options.
In one scenario, you could pay the bail in full to the court. This means that either you or a loved one took money that you currently have and gave it directly to the court. Generally speaking, this usually isn’t possible. Bail can be a pretty high amount, and the average person doesn’t have the full bail amount readily available. However, let’s say that a few people came together and paid the bail on behalf of the person requiring bail. When all is said and done, the bail amount is returned in full (even if that person is found guilty of the crime in question).
In the second scenario, you could work with a bail bond agency to post bail. In this situation, you don’t have or don’t want to put up the full bail amount to the court. Instead, the bail bond agency charges you a percentage of the bail, and they post the full bail amount on your behalf. Even in this situation, the bail is returned by the court. However, the premium you paid to the bail bond agency is not returned. The bail bond agency keeps this fee as payment for posting your bail.
Check out some more frequently asked bail bond questions
Are bail bond companies open on the weekend?
Yes. Most bail bond companies are open 24/7/365. Bail bond companies understand that people are arrested outside of normal working hours, which is why you can get help from a bail bondsman in the middle of the night and even on the weekends. So, if you do call the jail and they say your friend or family member has not posted bond yet, rest assured you can get in contact with a bail bond company no matter what time or day it is.
If the bond still needs to be posted, then you’ll need to get in contact with a bail bond company and start gathering any necessary items that may be required to get the bond process started. This can include personal, employer, and reference information.
There are many items you can use as collateral for a bond; however, choose these items carefully. There is a potential that these items could be forfeited if the arrestee fails to show up to court. These items can include jewelry, vehicles, real estate, and investments.
Contact Cowboy Bail Bonds for more information on local bail bonds
At Cowboy Bail Bonds, we offer 24-hour bail bonds in Bakersfield, Taft, Shafter, Wasco, and other Kern County areas. If you’re looking for more information on Kern County bail bonds or if you need to get started on the bail bond process, give us a call or fill out our online form.
Sometimes people want to know if bail bonds are public record or if they can find out whether or not someone has posted bail. These are similar yet different situations.
Generally speaking, bail bonds are public record. However, the only information that is public will almost always be just the defendant’s name and the bail bond company’s name. If there is a co-signer, the name of this person may also be public information. The crime itself is typically public record either way (which could vary based on state law).
Now, you could be wondering something like this: If my friend is arrested, will they let me know if their bond has been posted? Is this public information?
The answer to this question is also yes. This information is public.
While the information on who bailed that person out may not be readily available, the information on whether or not bond was posted is available. Depending on the jail, you might be able to find bail information online. If not, you can always call the jail to figure out if someone was able to post bail.
Bond not posted? Here’s what you may need to know.
Are bail bond companies open on the weekend?
Yes. Most bail bond companies are open 24/7/365. Bail bond companies understand that people are arrested outside of normal working hours, which is why you can get help from a bail bondsman in the middle of the night and even on the weekends. So, if you do call the jail and they say your friend or family member has not posted bond yet, rest assured you can get in contact with a bail bond company no matter what time or day it is.
If the bond still needs to be posted, then you’ll need to get in contact with a bail bond company and start gathering any necessary items that may be required to get the bond process started. This can include personal, employer, and reference information. Get help gathering all this information by checking out our list of bail bond information.
What qualifies as bail bond collateral?
There are many items you can use as collateral for a bond; however, choose these items carefully. There is a potential that these items could be forfeited if the arrestee fails to show up to court. These items can include jewelry, vehicles, real estate, and investments.
Contact Cowboy Bail Bonds for more information on public bail bonds
At Cowboy Bail Bonds, we offer 24-hour bail bonds in Bakersfield, Taft, Shafter, Wasco, and other Kern County areas. If you’re looking for more information on Kern County bail bonds or if you need to get started on the bail bond process, give us a call or fill out our online form.
If you owe money to a bail bond company, you might be wondering whether or not they can garnish wages. While the answer to this question can vary depending on what state you live in, a bail bond company is treated like any other creditor in California. In other words, a bail bond company can’t automatically garnish wages from your paycheck.
However, after the proper process is completed, unpaid debts to a bail bond agency can be garnished from your paycheck. To do this, a bail bond agency will need to start by suing you and taking you to court (this could include the co-signer, as well). If the bail bond company is successful at proving the unpaid debt exists and that they have a right to recover it, then they will likely be given the option by the court to garnish your wages.
Luckily, there are limits to how much money can be garnished from your check monthly. The amount garnished will be determined by a percentage of your weekly disposable earnings.
Additional bail bond resources from Cowboy Bail Bonds
Cowboy Bail Bonds is a bail bond agency located in Bakersfield. With over 50 years of experience providing Kern County residents with bail bond assistance, we can help you navigate the ins and outs of the bail bond process. Give us a call, fill out our online form, or check out our additional resources below.
One question we get asked a lot is, “Can a bail bond company arrest you?” And the simple answer to this question is yes. A bail bond company can most definitely arrest you.
A bail bond company can’t just automatically arrest you for failing to appear at court. There are parameters that need to be met first, and keep in mind, these parameters can fluctuate depending on what state you’re in.
Let’s cover the general basics on when and why it’s acceptable for a bail bond agency to arrest someone.
Can a bail bond company arrest you?
Obviously a bail bond agent is not a cop. They can’t just go around arresting people. However, when you turn to a bail bond agency to post bail, you’re — in a way — giving up some of your rights. That bail bond agreement you sign gives a bail bond agency the ability to hire a licensed bounty hunter to find you and take you to the proper authorities.
Let’s say your bail is set at $10,000. The bail bond agent will charge you a percentage of this bail amount (around 10%), and that percentage is non-refundable. The bail bond agent will then go pay that full $10k bail amount to the court. Once the whole court process is said and done, your bail bond company will get that 10 grand back from the court.
However, if you do not show up to court and this was not done by mistake, it is very likely that the bail amount will not be refunded. In other words, your bail bond agent just lost all that money. For this reason, that bail bond company will want to find you and deliver you to the court, so they can get their money back.
In order to take a person back to court, a bail bond company will turn to a bounty hunter. Depending on where you live, what a bounty hunter is and is not allowed to do will vary.
Here’s a general overview of what may or may not be allowed:
In many states, bounty hunters have to be licensed and possess the proper certifications and requirements.
In some states, a bounty hunter is allowed to enter private property under the following conditions:
They know the fugitive lives there.
They know the fugitive is currently in the property prior to entering.
There is an arrest warrant out for the individual.
If the property does not belong to the fugitive, they need to have the permission of the rightful owner to enter the property.
They have the proper paperwork with them and ready for inspection.
Keep in mind, if mistakes are made during the arresting process, the bounty hunter can and likely will be held liable for it. Potential mistakes could include arresting the wrong person, using excessive force, carrying firearms without a license, pretending to be law enforcement, or forcibly entering the wrong property.
In some states, bounty hunters must also notify law enforcement prior to attempting to arrest an individual.
Have more questions about bail bond companies?
At Cowboy Bail Bonds, we’ve been helping the people of Kern County successfully understand and post bail for decades. To learn more about the bail bond process in Bakersfield and to answer more questions similar to, “Can a bail bond company arrest you?” check out some of our recent articles and resources.
If a loved one has been arrested, then you’re probably wondering, “What information does a bail bondsman need?”If you do find yourself entangled with law enforcement, then it’s important to quickly uncover what info a bail bond agency is looking for. The sooner you can gather all this information together, the sooner you can get the bail bond process started for your loved one. Let’s take a look at the main items and information a bail bondsman will need to process your bail.Related Material: Are bail bondsman cops?
A bail bondsman will need the arrest information.
There are a handful of jails in Kern County. To make sure your bondsman knows where to start, you’ll need to let him or her know where your loved one is being held. Check out the areas we serve in Kern County, including Taft, Wasco, Lamont, and Bakersfield.On top of this, you’ll need to identify their inmate reference number and what their bail is set at. If you can’t figure out their bail amount, the bondsman should be able to gather this information for you. However, knowing the bail amount before speaking with your bondsman can make the bond process go quicker.It’s important to remember that bail may not be posted until the arrest and booking procedures have been finalized. This process may take more or less time depending on the jurisdiction and staffing resources available. Remain as patient as you can.
A bail bondsman will need personal information.
As would need to with the majority of large financial transactions, you’ll need to have the inmates personal information handy when first contacting a bail bondsman. This could expand to include the following information:
Full legal name
Driver’s license or ID
Address
Birthdate
Phone number
Social security number
A bail bondsman will need employer information.
In addition to basic personal information, the bail bondsman will likely need to know employer information, as well. This could expand to include:
Employer name
Employer address
Employer phone number
Years worked
Job title
Description of duties
Proof of employment
Keep in mind, this will typically include employer information for the inmate and employer information for the person posting bail on behalf of the inmate.
A bail bondsman will need reference information.
Similar to applying for a job, a bail bondsman will need references. However, these references should be personal references of the inmate. Be prepared to list at least three personal references, which should include full legal names, addresses, and phone numbers.These references can help a bail bondsman track down an individual who fails to show up to court.
Need to contact a bail bondsman in Kern County?
At Cowboy Bail Bondsman, we have decades of experience helping families in Kern County get out of jail fast. We’re available 24/7/365, and we’re pros at navigating the local bail bond process.Give us a call today or fill out our online form. Have more questions about bail bonds? Check out our bail bond FAQ page.
