What Do You Do When a Relative Is Arrested For Hitting Someone?

This question comes from Yahoo! Answers where we will frequently answer to bail related topics.

Question:  My brother was just arrested for broking a glass bottle over one of his friend’s head.  The person who got hit is not injured much, but my brother is now in jail. What can I do to get him out?   He is just about 24 years old and does not have a criminal record.  I know that I have to pay some money to get him out.  How much do I have to pay?  What is the difference between a bond and bail?   Once he is released and out of jail what do we do?   What do we have to do so that he is not taken back into custody.  I am concerned because he is attending college.

Answer:  This is a  fairly common case.  Bail is generally set by a county bail schedule. If you use a bail bondsman for a “bond” you will pay a non-refundable fee.  This fee is generally 10% of the total bail amount. You have the option to pay the entire amount of the bail also know as cash “bail”, you will get your money back once the case is complete.

The best thing to do is Read more »

How Can I Be Removed From a Bail Bond?

This question comes from Yahoo! Answers where we will answer bail questions frequently.  Our answer was selected as the “Best Answer” by Yahoo! voters.

Question: I signed for someone to be bailed out of jail and now I want to be removed ASAP.  Is this possible?

Answer: The bail bond contract you signed is legally binding. These contracts are required not only by the bondsman and the insurance company backing the bondsman, and also by the California Department of Insurance, the state agency that regulates bail bonds. Not many bail bonds agencies would want to remove you from the contract.

Finding someone else to take responsibility may be a possibility, but Read more »

Mendocino County Jail

General Information

Mendocino County Jail
951 Low Gap Rd.
Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: 707-463-4565
Bail Bonds for Mendocino County Jail

Anyone arrested in Mendocino County will be taken to the Mendocino County Jail for booking. The booking process will include photographs and fingerprinting, as well as a background check and warrant search. They will also be searched for drugs and weapons. All personal belongings will be collected and stored until their release.

A bail amount will usually be determined at the time of booking or during an arraignment by the judge.  Once bail has been set, the defendant will have the option to post bail.

Jail Information

VISITING:  Read more »

Finding The Right Bail Bondsman

The words “bail bondsman” may conjure images of gritty, smoke-filled offices staffed with shady characters. The reality, however, is quite the opposite. The majority of bondsmen are respectable, family-oriented individuals who work hard for people caught in an often unexpected situation.

A bondsman, more accurately known as a “bail agent,” is licensed in the state California to provide services to individuals who have been arrested with criminal charges so that the individual can get out of jail while waiting to see a judge. The bondsman will Read more »

Would bail your adult child out of jail?

Question: My son was arrested for shoplifting and was sentenced to 36-hours of community service. He then refused to do the community service hours and now he is back in jail for not complying with the court.

Answer: As a bondsman, I get this type of question from parents quite frequently. In fact, we published an article on this a few years back: Bail Bonds 101: Lessons for Parents. Knowing the state of the jails, I would certainly bail my adult child out of jail.

That said, there are certainly significant issues to consider in bailing out your adult child. For example, Read more »

Santa Cruz Main Jail

General Information

Santa Cruz Main Jail
259 Water Street
Santa Cruz, CA. 95060
(831) 454-2420

The Santa Cruz main jail opened in 1981, with a newer wing added in the late 1980s. Santa Cruz County offers only one detention facility which provides maximum security units. 

This facility is rated as a Class II detention facility. It detains those pending arraignment, being tried, and serving a sentence. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Detention Bureau administers and oversees the Santa Cruz Main Jail.

We recommend that you contact us as soon as the inmate is arrested as to allow for the fastest release possible from this jail.

Rules for Visiting Santa Cruz Main Jail:

All visitors must Read more »

Rountree Medium Facility Jail

General Information

Rountree Medium Facility
90 Rountree Lane
Watsonville, CA. 95076
(831) 454-5112

The Rountree Detention Center has two jail facilities (a medium facility and minimum facility), located in southern Santa Cruz County. Both facilities house inmates convicted and sentenced for up to one year in jail.

The medium security facility houses inmates who require incarceration and/or segregation from other inmates and those with court cases pending.

The minimum security facility houses inmates who do not have a high level of criminal sophistication and those who do not pose a threat to other inmates. They may also qualify for the Work Furlough program.

Once a bond has been posted, release can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours or more, depending upon their individual situation. We can post a bond 24 hours a day.

Rules for Visiting Rountree Medium Facility:

If you are planning to visit an inmate, you must be approved in advance by Read more »

Blaine Street Jail

General Information

Blaine Street Facility
141 Blaine Street
Santa Cruz, CA. 95060
(831) 454-2177

Blaine Street Facility in Santa Cruz only houses minimum and medium security female inmates. The facility has been in operation since 1984 and is adjacent to the Santa Cruz Main Jail.

The Blaine Street Jail is designed for women inmates who have been screened as minimum security risks. Low risk medium security women may also be assigned to this facility.

During processing of the female defendant, bail will be set. The amounts for bail in Santa Cruz are set by the county judges.

Rules for Visiting Blaine Street Facility Jail:

All visitations must be approved 24 hours in advance.

Visiting days for this facility are Read more »

How To Get Someone Released From Jail Using Bail Bonds

The Arrest

Once someone has been arrested and has gone through the booking and processing procedures, they should then be allowed to make a phone call. Generally, they will call call a friend or family member.  The person who was contacted usually then needs to to call a bail bondsman to arrange for release of the defendant from jail. 

When the defendant contacts a family member or friend, they ideally will provide the following information: full legal name, social security number, date of birth, the arrestung agency (police, sheriff, highway patrol, etc.), why in general they were arrested and the jail where they are being held. If they can provide their booking number and their bail amount, this will also help to make the bailing out process proceed faster.  All of this information is needed for the bondsman to get the defendant released as quickly as possible. If you do not have it available, a reputable bondsman will be able to obtain necessary information from the jail.

A Bondsman May Not Help

You might be surprised to find there are some instances where a bail bonds company may decline to take the case. While there are many contributing factors for a bondsman not to take the case, most often it is due to the amount of the risk involved in the bond.  In addition to the ability of someone to pay for the bond, the bondsman will want to feel secure that the defendant will return to court as promised.  

Bail Contract & Responsibilities

When the bond is posted by a family member or friend, they are entering into a contract with the bail bondsman. The purpose of the bail bond contract is to guarantee, to both the bail agent and the court, that the defendant will show up to their future court dates as expected.

Before anyone signs the contract, the bail bondsman will make sure the co-signer understands the commitment they are guaranteeing, and an ethical bondsman will not sign until it is fully understood. The bail bondsman needs to make sure the co-signer knows that if the defendant does not show up, he or she will be responsible for the full bond amount.

No Collateral Bail Bonds

The need for collateral depends on the bail amount and the risk involved. Sometimes just a simple signature on the bail bond is all that is required, while other times the use of a property or collateral bail bond will be needed. Some bail companies who only require a signature may request that the cosigner live in the area, own a home in the area or work in the area.  If a no collateral bail bond is important to you, make certain you are dealing with a bondsman that offers this.

Release From Jail

After the bail bond has been signed, the bail bondsman will post the bond to securely release the defendant from jail. Tthe defendant’s responsibility is then to show up to his or her scheduled court date. Assuming that happens, the bail bond is “exonerated” and no further contact is needed with the bondsman.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bail Bonds

Most people are not familiar with the bail bond process. Often, when someone receives that unexpected call about a loved one or friend being held in jail, several questions may arise. Listed below are some of the more frequently asked questions along with very brief answers when it comes to posting bail for a defendant.

1: What is Bail?

Bail is set by a judge and is intended to guarantee that the defendant will return to court as required.

2: What is a Bond?

When a defendant cannot afford to pay the entire bail amount, they can call on the help of a bail bondsman. The bail bonds company will post a paper “bond” with the court for the full amount of the bail. The bail bond is a contract which states that the defendant will show up for court..

3: Is a Bondsman a Bounty Hunter?

While a bondsman can pick up a defendant and return him or her to jail, a bondsman is not the same as a bail recovery agent (commonly known as a “bounty hunter”).

4: Who is allowed to post the bail for a defendant?

Anyone. However, Read more »