Can you bail someone out of jail with no money? It’s a reasonable question to ask considering how expensive bail can be (averaging around $50,000). So, what happens if you can’t afford bail?
Unfortunately, if you’ve been asked to post bail, you need at least some money. Yes, there are other types of bonds that don’t require you to pay money to be released (like an OR Bond) — but a cash bond is not one of those, and only certain individuals are approved for OR Bonds.
If you can’t afford the full bail amount, then you can attempt to pay a percentage of the bail. To do this, you have to seek out a bail bond company. In California, bail bond companies normally charge a 10% fee and may request some type of collateral from you to back up the bond.
This percentage fee is not returned, so don’t expect to get it back.
Once you complete the paperwork with the bail bondsman and pay your percentage fee (which could be a couple thousand dollars or more), then the bail bondsman will pay the full bail amount to court and help get your loved one released from jail.
If you can’t pay the percentage fee on your own, then it’s important to work with friends and family members to come up with that amount. This is still a better alternative than paying the full bail amount to court or having your loved one wait in jail until their court date (which could be quite a while).
If you need more information about how to post bail or if you’d like to inquire about other payment plans or options, please give us a callat 661-324-6009. At Cowboy Bail Bonds, we have decades of experience providing bail bonds in Bakersfield, Taft, Lamont, and Kern County.
We’re located in downtown Bakersfield, and we’re available for assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Looking for bail bonds in Bakersfield? At Cowboy Bail Bonds, we offer fast and easy bail bond services in Bakersfield, CA and throughout Kern County — including Taft, Lamont, Shafter, and Delano. With decades of experience, we have the resources and expertise you need to get your loved one out of jail fast. When you work with us, you can expect:
A free consultation — give us a call, we’ll let you know exactly what to expect and when
A hassle-free process — we’ll come to you, and we’ll make the bail bond process as painless as possible
24-hr service — we’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week… when you call us, we’ll answer
Honest and direct communication — we don’t mess around, we’ll tell it to you how it is
Quick Release — from the very first minute we speak, we’ll work tirelessly to get your loved one out of jail as fast as we can… leveraging our community resources and decades of experience providing bail bonds in Bakersfield
Contact us today to get help with bail bonds in Bakersfield
VISIT US
Cowboy Bail Bonds 1710 Blanche St Bakersfield, CA 93304 Lic. # 1841598
If you want to know, “How do bail bond companies work?”, then you might be facing some sort of legal trouble. If this is the case, don’t worry. Working with a bail bond company is typically a very smooth process. In fact, a bail bondsman can even quicken the process and help you avoid potential issues along the way.
Let’s take a few moments to discuss how a bail bond company works and provide you with additional resources to keep learning.
What is bail?
Bail is set by the court. It is a dollar amount that the defendant pays. Once the bail is paid, then the defendant can await his or her court date from home — rather than waiting in a jail cell. Bail is typically pretty expensive, especially in California (the average amount is around $50,000), and many individuals awaiting trial cannot afford to post bail on their own (which is why they seek out a bail bond company).
However, bail is not always a guaranteed thing. In some cases, bail can be denied based on factors such as flight risk, seriousness of the alleged crime committed, and degree of danger to the community.
If you cannot afford to post bail on your own, then you can either remain in jail as you await your court date or you can seek out a bail bond company. When you approach a bail bond company, they will need to gather personal information, work history, references, and collateral. If approved, the bail bond company will go to the court and pay the full bail amount on your behalf. Then you or your loved one should be released from jail.
When you turn to a bail bond company to help you post bail, you will be required to pay a fee (usually around 10%). While the bond itself is refundable, this fee is not (even if you are eventually found innocent of the crime). After you attend your court date, the bail amount will be refunded to the bail bond company, and the bail bond company will pocket your bail bond fee. This is how bail bond companies make money and are able to offer this service.
Bail bondsmen are not considered law enforcement to any degree. They simply offer a bail service to the community. However, if you don’t make your court date that means the bail bond company will not get your bail amount refunded. This means they have an incentive to get you back to court. In this type of situation, the bail bond company would hire a bounty hunter. These people are also not police officers, but they do have the authority to legally detain you and take you back to court.
If you don’t make your court date, then you will have a failure to appear on your record and a warrant will be issued for your arrest. As we mentioned earlier, this will be the point at which the bail bond company will likely reach out to a bounty hunter. If you did happen to post bail on your own, then a failure to appear in court means you forfeit the entire bail amount, and it will not be returned to you.
Need help posting bail? Contact Cowboy Bail Bonds.
At Cowboy Bail Bonds, we have decades of experience providing bail bonds in Bakersfield, Taft, Wasco, and throughout Kern County, and we’d love to talk to you.Fill out our online form or give us a call today.
With the emergence of COVID-19, many people are wondering what the deal is with coronavirus bail bonds. Are you still able to get a bail bond during the pandemic? Are bail bonds even necessary since many people are being released from prison with a zero-cash bond? Let’s take a few moments to cover the basics.
Why are zero-cash bonds being offered?
During the start of the shutdown, the Judicial Council decided to offer zero-cash bonds for anyone with a misdemeanor or lower-level felony. This was to avoid spreading the virus in an already overcrowded and confined space.However, judges still have the opportunity to prevent certain suspects in custody from taking advantage of a zero-cash bond (if that person poses a higher risk to society). And, of course, any person with offenses more serious than a misdemeanor or lower-level felony is also denied a zero-cash bond.
Who does not qualify for a zero-cash bond?
There are more than a few reasons why someone might be denied a zero-cash bond — but most, if not all, of the reasons directly relate to the safety of the public or any victim(s) and whether or not they pose a substantial flight risk.Here are just a few reasons why someone might not qualify for a zero-cash bond:
That person is considered a flight risk
There’s more evidence than usual to depict guilt
The offense involves violence against another person
The offense involves sexual assault
The person has threatened someone with bodily harm
What happens if you do need a coronavirus bail bond?
If a person finds themselves in a bind and in need of a bail bond during the pandemic, there’s good news. Bail bond companies are still open and doing everything they can to ensure quick releases. Here at Cowboy Bail Bonds, we’re working double-time to help our clients post bail. Here are just a few of the reasons we are the go-to bail bond company in Bakersfield:
We offer the lowest rates allowed by law
We provide easy-to-qualify requirements for co-signers
We can promise flexible credit terms and payment plans
We are available 24 hours a day for fast bail bonds
We will meet you at our office or any place of your choosing
We are able to write most bonds with just a signature as collateral
Contact Cowboy Bail Bonds for bail bond assistance
Need help making 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.
If you’re wondering how to pick a bail bond company, odds are you’re in the middle of a trying situation. But don’t worry. If you keep a cool head and do your research, you can make this situation as stress-free as possible. Here are a few quick tips on how to pick a bail bond company.
Be wary of a cheap bail bondsman.
If you hear a bail bondsman talk about “cheap bail bonds” or if you see that referenced on their website, be cautious. There is no such thing as a cheap bail bond. This is usually a false advertising claim with the intention to lure you to their website. Take a few minutes to learn more about what it actually means when people use the term cheap bail bonds.
Learn about the bail bond process.
Don’t go into this situation blindly. Know your rights and understand how the bail bond process works. It’s important to understand:
Do they have reviews and testimonials on their site or on Google? This is one of the simplest ways to see how people view the bail bond company. Keep in mind, these reviews will typically be very positive or very negative — so be wary. While these won’t build a complete picture of the company, it can show you the very best and the very worst of the company (which can be helpful).
Looking for bail bonds near me?
Cowboy Bail Bonds is headquartered in Bakersfield, California. However, we provide bail bonds services throughout Kern County, including Tehachapi, Delano, Wasco, and more. If you or a loved one is in need of a bail bond, give us a call at 661.324.6009. We have over 50 years of experience in the bail bonds industry, and we’ll do whatever it takes to obtain the release of your loved one. At Cowboy Bail Bonds, you can expect flexible credit terms and payment plans, quick and honest service, and the lowest rates allowed by law.Additional Bail Bond Resources:
