When a loved one is arrested for a crime he or she is taken to jail. In order to be processed and released from jail, the defendant may be required to post bail, sometimes the bail is too high and you require a bail reduction.
In different situations, the defendant is processed to be released on his own recognizance ( also known as O.R.) without having post any bail, and given a future date to appear in court. If that does not occur, then the defendant must post bail to be released from jail.
Bail is the means used to secure a loved ones release from jail. Bail is commonly set according to a county-wide bail schedule. Bail for an inmate can be posted with a bail bond, cash, or real property as collateral for an arrestee’s future court appearances.
In some events, the bail set may be too high or unreasonable for the defendant. An experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense attorney can petition the court for a bail reduction. This is done at the first court hearing, referred to as the arraignment. In setting the bail amount in California the judge takes into account the following components:
- The gravity of the lawbreakers offense
- The defendant’s criminal history
- Public safety
- The expectation of the defendant making all the required court appearances.
An experienced attorney will use these same factors to reduce bail, plus use any additional favorable information. This information may also include other components: the defendant’s employment; no prior absence in court (FTA); the defendant’s real estate in the community and stable life history. If these components are shown, the defendant is therefore not likely to be a liability, or a danger to public safety, the court may lower the bail.
If a judge is reluctant to reduce the bail at the arraignment then your attorney can inquire a separate bail hearing after the arraignment. Additional bail motions can be made at following court appearances including at the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, at the second superior court arraignment and during future pretrial hearings.
If you need an experienced bail bondsman with references to qualified criminal attorney’s call us today at 800-880-8380 we are open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.