Find licensed California bail bondsmen in all 58 counties. Learn how bail bonds work, costs, and how to get someone out of jail fast.
Calls may be answered by a licensed bail bond agent.In California, a bail bond is a financial guarantee posted by a licensed surety company that allows an arrested person to be released from jail while awaiting trial. You pay a non-refundable premium of 10% of the total bail amount, and the bondsman posts the full bail with the court.
California law sets the bail bond premium at 10% of the total bail amount. This fee is non-refundable even if charges are dropped.
Most bondsmen require a co-signer who agrees to be financially responsible if the defendant fails to appear in court.
Once the bond is posted, release typically takes 2-8 hours depending on the jail and how busy the booking department is.
The defendant must appear at all scheduled court dates. Missing a court date causes the bond to be forfeited and a warrant issued.
Understanding exactly what happens from arrest to release helps families act quickly and avoid costly mistakes. Here is the complete process for getting someone out of a California county jail using a bail bond.
After arrest, the person is transported to the county jail for booking. This involves recording personal information, taking fingerprints and a mugshot, and cataloging any personal belongings. Booking typically takes 2 to 6 hours, after which the person enters the jail system and becomes searchable in the county roster.
For most misdemeanors, bail is set automatically according to the county bail schedule. For felonies and serious offenses, bail is set at arraignment, which must occur within 48 hours of arrest in California. Bail amounts range from a few hundred dollars for minor offenses to millions for serious felonies.
Once you know the bail amount, contact a California-licensed bail bondsman. The bondsman will need the full legal name, date of birth, booking number, the jail where the person is held, and the bail amount. Call our free line at to be connected with a licensed bondsman in your county.
The indemnitor (co-signer) completes a bail application and bail bond agreement. The bondsman runs a risk assessment. The co-signer is financially responsible for the full bail amount if the defendant fails to appear. Collateral such as property or vehicles may be required for high bail amounts.
The bondsman submits the bond to the jail. Processing time varies by facility, ranging from 2 hours at smaller jails to 8 hours or more at large facilities like LA County. The defendant is released with paperwork listing all mandatory court dates, which must be attended or the bond is forfeited.
California law fixes the bail bond premium at exactly 10% of the total bail amount. This rate is set by the California Department of Insurance and cannot be negotiated lower. Here is what you can expect to pay at common bail amounts.
| Total Bail Amount | Bond Premium (10%) | Typical Offense |
|---|---|---|
| $1, 000 | $100 | Minor misdemeanor |
| $5, 000 | $500 | DUI, petty theft |
| $10, 000 | $1, 000 | Drug possession, assault |
| $25, 000 | $2, 500 | Grand theft, burglary |
| $50, 000 | $5, 000 | Felony assault, robbery |
| $100, 000 | $10, 000 | Serious felony |
| $500, 000 | $50, 000 | Violent felony, homicide |
Many California bail bondsmen offer payment plans for families who cannot pay the full premium upfront. A bondsman can also sometimes post bond with a smaller initial payment and a payment arrangement for the remainder. Call to discuss payment options with a licensed bondsman in your county.
Many families have questions about what happens to the bail bond money once the court case is resolved. Here is a clear explanation of the different outcomes and what each means financially.
If the defendant attended all court dates and the case is resolved, the bond is exonerated by the court. The bondsman is released from liability. The 10% premium is not returned -- it was the bondsman's fee for their service.
If the defendant misses a court date, the court issues a forfeiture notice. The bondsman has 180 days to return the defendant to custody before they must pay the full bail amount to the court. The co-signer may lose any collateral pledged.
Even if all charges are dropped before trial, the 10% bail bond premium is non-refundable under California law. The bond itself is exonerated when charges are dismissed, releasing any collateral that was pledged.
Bail amounts in California are set based on two mechanisms: the county bail schedule and judicial discretion at arraignment. Understanding both helps families know what to expect and whether a bail amount can be contested.
Each California county Superior Court adopts a bail schedule that sets a standard bail amount for each Penal Code violation. When someone is arrested, the jail uses this schedule to set bail immediately, without a judge's involvement. Bail is available at booking based on the schedule amount.
For example, Los Angeles County's bail schedule sets PC 211 (robbery) at $100, 000. Sacramento sets the same charge at $50, 000. Amounts vary significantly by county.
At arraignment (within 48 hours of arrest), a judge reviews the bail schedule amount and can increase it, reduce it, or release the defendant on their own recognizance (OR). Factors include criminal history, flight risk, danger to the community, and ties to the local area.
This is why having a private attorney at arraignment can significantly reduce bail, and why waiting for arraignment before posting bail through a bondsman can sometimes save money.
DUI (first offense): $5, 000 to $15, 000 depending on county. Drug possession: $10, 000 to $25, 000. Assault with a deadly weapon: $50, 000 to $100, 000. Robbery: $50, 000 to $150, 000. These are general ranges from county bail schedules and actual bail set by a judge can differ significantly.
For the most serious charges including murder, certain sex offenses, and cases where the defendant is considered a flight risk or danger to the community, a judge may order no bail (remand into custody). This means the defendant cannot be released regardless of how much money is available.
Own-recognizance release means the defendant is released without paying any bail, on the promise to appear in court. OR release is more common for first-time offenders with strong community ties and misdemeanor or low-level felony charges. Some counties have OR programs administered through pretrial services.
An alternative to cash bail, supervised release involves conditions like check-ins with a pretrial officer, electronic monitoring, substance abuse testing, or travel restrictions. California's efforts to reduce reliance on cash bail have expanded supervised release programs in many counties.
Before signing a bail bond agreement, understanding your obligations as a co-signer is critical. These are real financial and legal commitments that persist until the case is fully resolved.
When you co-sign a bail bond, you are guaranteeing that the defendant will appear at all scheduled court dates. If the defendant fails to appear (FTA), the full bail amount becomes immediately due. The bondsman will attempt to locate and return the defendant to custody. If unsuccessful within the court-ordered time period, you as co-signer become liable for the full bail amount.
As a co-signer, you also typically have the right to surrender the defendant if you believe they are planning to flee. Co-signers can be released from liability by surrendering the defendant before a court date is missed.
For large bail amounts, bondsmen often require collateral in addition to the 10% premium. Common forms of collateral include real estate equity (most common), vehicles, jewelry, or other valuable assets. The collateral is returned after the case concludes, as long as the defendant appeared for all court dates.
California sets the bail bond premium at exactly 10% of the total bail amount by law. Bail agents are prohibited from charging more or less than this rate. There is no negotiating below 10% in California.
No. The 10% premium is the bondsman's fee for their service and is non-refundable even if the charges are dropped, the case is dismissed, or the person is found not guilty.
The court will forfeit the bail bond, meaning the surety company owes the full bail amount to the court. The bondsman may hire a bounty hunter to locate and return the defendant. The co-signer becomes liable for the full bond amount.
Yes. Credit is not typically a factor in issuing a bail bond. The bondsman is primarily concerned with the defendant's likelihood of appearing in court and the co-signer's ability to cover the bond if needed.
Call our free 24/7 line at (916) 633-2220. You will be connected with a licensed California bail bondsman who serves your county. You can also verify any bail agent's license at the California Department of Insurance website.
Yes. Bail can be reduced at arraignment or through a subsequent bail motion (PC 1275 motion). A defense attorney can file a motion asking the judge to reduce bail based on factors like the defendant's ties to the community, employment, family, and lack of prior criminal history. These motions are most effective at arraignment or shortly after, before the prosecution builds their case for keeping bail high.
If you paid cash bail directly to the court (not through a bondsman), the full amount is returned after the case resolves regardless of outcome, minus any court fees. If you used a bail bondsman, the 10% premium you paid is not returned. This is true even if the case is dismissed or charges are dropped. The premium is the bondsman's fee for the service, not a deposit.
California bail bondsmen are licensed by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). They are authorized to post bail bonds on behalf of defendants. If a defendant fails to appear, bondsmen are authorized to arrest the defendant and return them to custody within 180 days without a warrant. Bondsmen cannot carry firearms unless also licensed as firearms carriers. All bondsmen must be licensed and their license can be verified at the CDI website.
Call our free line and get connected with a licensed California bail specialist who can assist you 24 hours a day.