California and the country's constitution grants people the right to bail. This might not apply to certain crimes, especially capital crimes like murder. Either way, it's up to a judge to determine if you are eligible for bail or not. If you are accused of minor crimes, you might be released by own recognizance or a citation, with a commitment that you will appear in court for your hearings. You might also be able to post the bail amount as required by the court or jail before you are released. If you cannot post the required bail amount, we at Fausto’s Bail Bonds can help you. We offer efficient bail bonds services in Palm Desert, CA, and surrounding cities.
Facing an Arrest
When you or a loved one is arrested, you must stay calm. This will go a long way in doing you and the officers a favor by keeping your voice down and responding appropriately when interacting with officers. Your first stop is likely to be at the Palm Desert Station, where you will be processed and booked.
When arrested, here's what you should not do:
- Struggle with the officer
- Yell profanities
- Refuse to take a breathalyzer test
- Give information that could jeopardize your case
Instead, do the following:
- Keep your cool
- Speak softly and physically cooperate with the police
- When at all possible, keep your mouth shut
- Clarify your action calmly (If you decide to)
- Demonstrate your reasonability and stability
- As needed, consent to a breathalyzer and other tests (you can also contact a criminal lawyer if you are uncertain about what to do)
You place yourself in a stronger position for release and prevent additional accusations such as assaulting a police officer or resisting arrest by being cool and indicating that you are sensible and stable.
When you're detained, the first step should be to contact a local, reliable bail bond agent who will secure your jail within the shortest possible time. The process will take a relatively shorter time if you are detained in a smaller jail facility than a bigger one. So, we advise you to contact a bail bonds company as soon as possible before you are even transferred to a bigger county jail facility to make your bail process faster and easier.
The Palm Desert Bail Bond Process
Bail is a sum of money held by the court as a surety that a person will show up for court proceedings and hearings, among other things. The bail amount required depends on the charges leveled against you, flight risk, dangers you post to the community, among others. You will find each county's bail schedule displayed at the respective detention center. These schedules will reveal the amount of money you'll need to deposit.
To determine the amount of bail you'll need, do the following:
- Identify the charge with the most severe possibility for fines and jail time
- Determine the grounds of the bail using that charge
- Look for any "augmentations" or additional charges, as well as the bond that applies to them
- Add everything up to determine the cumulative amount of bail needed
The first standard bail option is paying cash bail. This means paying the entire amount upfront or giving its equivalent. Unfortunately, few people can afford to do so. If they do, they risk losing all of their money — and indeed the ability to utilize it (without interest) during their trial period, which could take several months or years in some situations.
Some people have sufficient equity in their homes to post a property bond to secure their freedom from jail. However, even if this is conceivable, it is rarely desirable. You'll require significantly more equity than that of the bail bond's value, risk losing your properties since it will serve as collateral, and won't be able to release a loved one or yourself from jail for days, if not weeks. At the same time, the court verifies the title and some other relevant paperwork.
Finally, some people do not require a bail bond because they secure their release on their own recognizance, which means they pledge to show up for all of their planned court dates. The court does this based on "community status," but few arrestees receive this offer.
Bail bonds are a reliable tool that allows persons who do not have vast amounts of money on hand, are not property owners, and are not eligible for an “own recognizance” release to get out of jail as quickly as possible with minimal potential difficulty.
A bail bond is a legal agreement in which a bail bondsman deposits the total bail money with the court in return for a 10% fee from the bond's co-signer. Should the bonded out person fail to appear in court, the co-signer agrees to be accountable for the whole bail amount.
Bail Bond Rates
To post a bond on behalf of a defendant, the state of California stipulates that all bail bond agencies charge 10% of the entire value of the bail. In other words, if the bond is $20,000, the bail agency must charge $2,000 to issue a bond in place of the money. While it may appear to be a substantial sum, it is significantly less than paying the total amount. Government and Immigration Bonds might have higher rates between 15% to 20%. However, all of these charges are mandated by law, and all bail bond firms must charge a similar amount.
If the offender hires a private lawyer and settles the entire premium within 72 hours, California law permits a reduced cost on bail bonds. Federal union workers, military personnel, and AARP members are eligible for these reductions. The surety firm that writes the bail bond agency's bail determines these discounts.
Importance of Bail Bonds
Let's face it, getting locked up is costly. The court costs, penalties, and money required to get released from jail and back to your household are not insignificant. It's easy to become overwhelmed by the price. Fortunately, a bondsman is an excellent option for posting bail.
Sometimes bail is not necessary, like when an alleged offender has no criminal history or is in good standing in the community. Even said, none of these characteristics guarantee that you will not be required to post bail. This is entirely up to the court's discretion. The amount of bail might be prohibitively expensive for those arrested.
Once you pay the fee, the bail bonds agency will put up the remaining amount of bail to the court. This allows the bondsman to make a small profit and not have the added stress of coming up with a large amount of money for bail on such short notice. And, it makes it easier to focus your attention on your case and court dates without worrying about bail.
Hold on Bail (PC 1275)
In rare circumstances, the arresting officer determines that an individual obtained the money used for bail through illicit means. If that's the case, the officer-in-charge can file specific documentation requiring the offender to be held without bail until a hearing is convened. Call a reputed bail bond agency for assistance with a PC 1275 Hold On Bail.
Considerations When Choosing a Palm Desert Bail Bonds Company
Most people understand the stress and challenges of having a loved one incarcerated, ranging from being away from his family, unable to fend for their needs, strained relationships, and many more. You need to select a bail company that understands the urgency of securing a person's release within the shortest time possible.
While most bail agencies put time as their priority, here are other areas you need to look into:
- The rates offered by the company
- The ability to post large amounts of bail bonds
- How favorable the payment plans are, probably go for one with low monthly payments
- The possibility of using online payment alternatives and accepting major credit cards
- Online submission of paperwork
- Years of experience that the company has
- Constitution of the staff and whether they have bilingual agents
- Discounts offered, e.g., for military or government agents
- Level of discretion when handling your case
Examples of Charges that Require Bail Bonds Agencies Services
Once a person posts bail, it is possible to secure a release from jail. However, when facing charges involving murder and such crimes, that can be a different issue altogether. Here are some prevalent crimes where bail bond agency services can come in handy.
DUI Bail Bonds
California has some of the strictest DUI laws in the nation under Vehicle Code Sections 23152 and 23153, which state that:
- It is forbidden to operate a motor vehicle when under the influence of alcohol
- It is unlawful to drive a motor vehicle if the blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 percent or above
- It is forbidden to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of a drug
- It is prohibited to use a motor vehicle while under the influence of any drug combination or alcohol
Bail Bonds for Domestic Violence
When two individuals spend more time together, fights are bound to happen. Therefore, it's critical to maintain your calm when arguing with someone you're in a relationship with. Allowing your temper to get the best of you is a bad idea. If problems arise, you might face law enforcement because of a domestic dispute or domestic violence incident.
Domestic violence charges will throw you to jail, at least unless you can secure a bond and defend yourself in court. The arrestee will be transferred to the Palm Desert Jail to be assessed and charged with domestic violence offenses. They will have the option of paying cash bail, posting a bail bond, or remaining in jail to face trial once the documentation has been submitted and the police take fingerprints and a mug shot.
A bail bond company can readily come to your aid when facing a domestic violence charge. In addition, they can assist you in navigating the journey from county prison to your house so you can focus on marital or relationship issues responsibly.
Other bonds that a bail bonds agency will settle include:
- Assault and battery bail bonds
- Child endangerment bail bonds. This could entail charges like child neglect, abuse, abandonment, failure to monitor a child's schooling, and tattooing a minor, among others
Your Responsibility to the Bail Bonds Agency
You need to check in with the bail bonds agency for various reasons. For starters, it reassures the bondsman that you remain committed to completing your case. Second, personal check-ins demonstrate that you are still in the area and prepared to maintain enough contact with the court to satisfy the judge.
Third, a check-in is an opportunity to update your contact information. It also permits the bail bonds agency to keep you updated on any new developments or news on your charges and lawsuit. Finally, checking in monthly or even daily is essential to enable the court and the bail bonds service to track your whereabouts while you are out on bail.
Possible Jails and Courts Info for Arrestees In Palm Desert, CA
After the arrest, your first detention point will be the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station. After that, you will probably be transferred to any of these jails:
Blythe Jail
Cois M. Byrd Detention Center
John J. Benoit Detention Center
Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility
Robert Presley Detention Center
The following courts will take care of bail hearings and court processes for people arrested in the Palm Desert area.
Central Office, Sheriff's Court Services
Phone: 951-304-5050
Fax: 951-304-5066
Sheriff's Court Service, East Office
Phone: 760-863-8255
Fax: 760-863-8919
Sheriff's Court Services West Office
Phone: 951-955-2420
Fax: 951-955-6155
Find a Palm Desert Bail Bonds Company Near Me
While you might be eligible for bail, you might also be unable to raise the required bail amount to secure a release. This should not dim your hopes because our local Palm Desert bail bonds agents at Fausto’s Bail Bond are always ready to get in touch and help you. Please reach out to us at 855-328-7867 today so we can kickstart your bail process.