Ed. Note: The following content was provided by All American Bail Bonds, who is a client of KHTS AM-1220.
If your loved one is arrested and charged with a crime, do you know what to do next? The experts at All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita can help.
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“No one is prepared for that middle-of-the-night phone call from a family member in jail,” said Inessa Chavez, vice president of All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita. “That’s why our bail agents are available around the clock to help you navigate this stressful situation.”
Based on the charges, a bail amount is set at the jail referencing the Los Angeles County bail schedule. If the defendant can’t afford bail, they must remain in jail until their court date, according to the Bail Resource Center and Career Academy.
In order to be released, the defendant has several options. They can pay a cash bond– which is 100 percent of the bail amount in cash or cashier’s check –to the jailer or court, which is returned if the person shows up for all their scheduled court appearances, including the judgement day.
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“For many people, the total bail amount is simply too high to pay in full,” Chavez said.
Another option is to turn to a bail bonding company like All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita for what’s called a surety bond, where a premium percentage of the bail amount is charged through a contractual undertaking guaranteed by a bail agent.
Bail agents can explain the process, post the bond and help ensure your loved one is released from jail within hours.
“Typically, bail agents charge 10 percent of the total bail amount,” Chavez explained. “However, collateral may be required to help guarantee the defendant appears in court.”
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The bail agent will post the bond at the jail once the premium has been paid, documents are signed and information is verified. Once this process is completed, the defendant is released.
“If the defendant fails to appear in court, or if bail conditions are violated, a couple of things happen,” Chavez said. “First, the bail is forfeited by the court and a warrant is issued. Then the bail agent must attempt to locate the defendant and return them to jail.”
At this point, the collateral used for the bond may be lost to repay the bail agent, who must pay the full amount of the bond to the court if the defendant isn’t located within 180 days.
The bond is fully exonerated when the trial is over and all conditions have been met, regardless of whether or not the defendant is found innocent or guilty.
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Santa Clarita, CA 91355
661-255-2245
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If your loved one is in custody and they wish to talk to an All American Bail Bonds representative, call:
818-990-0003 or 661-267-6777
CLIENT.SERVICES@ALLAMERICANBAILBONDS.COM