Los Angeles Bail Bonds: Amounts, Costs & Fees

How are Los Angeles Bail Bonds Set?

Typically, when someone is accused of committing a criminal act, they are apprehended, arrested and taken to a jail located in Los Angeles. Then, sometime soon after, they will go before a judge and the judge will determine their bond eligibility. If they are eligible, they will be able to hire the services of a Los Angeles bail bond company. The court makes their decision based on whether or not the defendant is likely to show up to their future court dates. As for the amount of the bond, the court will look at several factors to determine the appropriate setting.

The first factor the judge will consider when setting a bond is the severity of the crime that has said to have been committed. If the defendant is being charged with a violent crime, his bond may be set relatively high or not at all. Normally, if the bond is set high, it is done so to ensure that the defendant will show up to their court date. If the defendant is being charged with a less-severe or non-violent crime, and the judge thinks that the defendant will not be a risk to public safety or to themselves, the judge will set a lower bond amount. The crime that the defendant is being charged with is the most important factor in determining the bond setting.

The next factor the judge will consider is the defendant’s past criminal record, or if there is one. The defendant will most likely have a lower bail amount if there is no history of a past criminal behavior. However, if the defendant does have a past criminal record, the bond amount will likely be set at a higher amount.

The last factor a judge typically considers is whether or not the defendant presents a risk of flight. This is how likely they are to not return to court.  If the defendant is a risk, the judge may not set the bond at all or they might set it very high at an unreasonable amount. This is only to ensure that the defendant will show up at their court dates later by keeping them in jail. If the defendant does not show up to court, they may be responsible for their total bail bond, not to mention a longer stay in jail.

In some cases, when a judge determines that the defendant is neither a flight-risk and/or has not been charged with a serious or violent crime, the defendant may be released on their own accord. This will mean that no money or bail bond is needed to be released. The defendant will only have to sign a paper saying that they will be at their next court date.

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