Bail allows an accused person arrested in Morongo Valley to be freed from jail and await trial while free. However, posting bail from your pocket can be challenging, mainly because the amount is often too high. In this case, you may need the help of a local Morongo Valley bail bonds service. They will help you post bail at an affordable fee, regardless of the amount.
At El Don Bail Bonds, we have helped accused persons post bail for the longest time. Our Morongo Valley bail bonds are quick, affordable, and reliable. We will attend to you whether you face charges or wish to understand how the bail process works. Call us for a consultation.
The Definition of Bail
When the police arrest you for a crime in Morongo Valley, they will take you into custody. White there, they will process, book, and place you in a holding cell. A court judge may then set bail so you can leave jail to await your trial while free. Bail is the total amount of money you must deposit with the court to secure this release from custody. Aside from paying bail, you must promise to make court appearances when required. In essence, bail guarantees that you will appear in court for future hearings about your case.
How a Judge Determines the Bail Value
Judges in Morongo Valley determine bail amounts with the help of a bail schedule. This is a list of pre-approved bail values for various offenses. For most crimes, there is an established dollar value the judge can set as bail. However, the judge can raise or lower the bail value at their discretion. They consider different factors when deciding to decrease or increase the amount, including:
- The seriousness of the offense.
- Criminal history.
- Whether you are likely to flee the jurisdiction.
- Your community ties.
- Employment history.
- Your ability to pay bail.
- Whether you pose any danger to society.
- The likelihood that you will show up in court.
The judge may also decide otherwise at this point. For example, they may order the police to release you on your own recognizance (O.R. release). That means they will not set bail. Instead, they will release you on a signed promise that you will make all court appearances as required.
In other situations, a judge might decide not to grant bail altogether. A judge may deny you bail if there is an arrest warrant against you in a different jurisdiction or if you were arrested for violating parole or probation.
If the judge has set the bail amount too high, you can request a bail hearing to ask them to lower the value. Your lawyer can help you present mitigating evidence to convince the judge to lower the amount. The evidence may include the lawyer arguing that:
- You have businesses in your community and excellent community ties.
- You made all court appearances in the past.
- You have loved ones that depend on you.
- You are not a danger to the community.
- The facts surrounding your case are not severe.
Posting Bail
After the judge has set bail, they will allow you to find ways to pay the amount before the authorities release you. There are three main ways to post bail in Morongo Valley. These are cash bail, property bonds, and bail bonds.
- Cash bail: This entails making a cash payment to the court equal to the total bail amount. You can pay cash bail in cash. However, some courts allow payment in traveler's checks, cashier's checks, personal checks, or money orders.
- Property bonds: Here, you give your valuable property to the court to secure your release. If you fail to make court appearances, the court places a lien on the property and can sell it to recover the bail amounts. Processing a property bond is time-consuming. Thus, people use these bonds less often than bail bonds or cash bail.
- Bail bonds: In this case, a Morongo Valley bail bonds service will post your bail for you for a fee. Bail bonds are the most often used since most defendants lack property or enough to pay their bail.
How Morongo Valley Bail Bonds Work
As stated above, once the police arrest you, they will bring you to custody. A judge might then set bail by referring to the bail schedule and considering other mitigating circumstances. If you lack the assets or cash to pay the set bail, you can use a Morongo Valley bail bonds company to obtain the required funds. A bail bondsman from the company you hire will work with the court to have you released from custody. The bondsman will be responsible for seeing that you attend court on the required dates.
Before the bondsman agrees to post bail for you, they will need you to pay a fee. The fee is often 10% of the total bail amount and is not refundable. So, if your bail amount is $100,000, the fee will be $10,000. The fee is not refundable as it is the company’s charge for their services. Some Morongo Valley bail bonds services will need you to provide valuable property as collateral.
If you fail to attend court as required, the bondsman can use the services of a bounty hunter to look for you and hand you back to the authorities. If they do not find you, they will forfeit the bond amount to the court. In turn, they may sell the collateral you provided to recover the forfeited amount. If the bounty hunter finds you and hands you over to the authorities, you may be rearrested and denied bail.
The Morongo Valley Bail Bonds Process
The bail bonds process is straightforward if you work with a knowledgeable agency. Once the judge has set bail and you have decided to seek help from a bonds company, the first thing to do is call them. Once you call, you should be connected to a licensed, professional bondsman to talk to. They will ask you some questions about arrest and require you to provide your personal information. Some of the information you will be required to provide includes:
- Your full name.
- Contact information.
- Your supposed crime.
- The location of your arrest.
- The jail holding you.
- Your employment status.
Once you provide this information, the process officially starts. With the details the bondsman obtained from you, they prepare a bond agreement and application papers. These are short documents; you can easily complete them via email or fax, mainly because you will be in jail and cannot meet with the bondsman. Alternatively, someone else can handle the process on your behalf. In these cases, they will become your cosigner.
Once you have completed the required paperwork, the bondsman will ask you to pay the 10% fee. Depending on the bond company, they may also request collateral. After paying the fee and collateral, the bondsman will come to your jail to deposit the bond.
The jail will release you on bail once the bondsman has paid the bond. In Morongo Valley, bonds can be deposited 24/7. Therefore, regardless of the time of the day you start the bond process, you will not have to wait for the jail's business hours to be out of jail. It could take thirty minutes to twelve hours for you to be set free after the payment of the bonds. This variation depends on the jail facility, staff, and the facts surrounding your case.
The judge will set various conditions for your continued stay out of jail. These may include surrendering your passport, undergoing random drug and alcohol tests, and not committing any other crimes. The judge may also order you to stay a given distance away from the victim and not contact them.
Choosing the Right Morongo Valley Bail Bonds Service
When selecting a local Morongo Valley bail bonds service to help you post bail, you will want to look at various things. These include the following:
- Services: You want to ensure your chosen bond service provides all your required services. There are various bond services, including hit-and-run bail bonds, domestic violence bail bonds, DUI bail bonds, et cetera.
- Location: Another critical factor to think about is location. You want to select an agency close to the jail where you are being held. Also, choose a company that operates 24/7 so you can have your bail posted anytime and secure your release.
- Reputation: You also want to ensure you select a bond service with a good reputation. Check online reviews of the company you are interested in hiring to see what people say about it. You can also ask people to refer you to companies they believe have a good reputation and do due diligence to select your most preferred.
- Price: It is essential to select an affordable agency. Also, consider one that offers various payment options. This will enable you to choose an option that suits your budget and needs.
Once you have considered these factors, you can select a company that will bail you out of custody.
Cosigning Morongo Valley Bail Bonds
If your loved one is in jail, you can agree to post bail for them. In this case, you become a cosigner. If you decide to secure a bond for your loved one, you will undergo the bond process on their behalf. There are requirements you must meet to become a cosigner. These are straightforward. You must be a legal U.S. resident aged at least 18 years old. Also, you must carry with you three items when meeting the bondsman. These are:
- A legitimate form of ID, like a state ID or driver's license.
- A recent utility receipt that proves residency.
- The latest pay receipt or other evidence of income.
In addition, you must be able to give the following information:
- The charges against the accused.
- The name of the jail holding the accused.
- The defendant’s date of birth.
- The defendant's registration number.
As an indemnitor, you also take on particular obligations and responsibilities. These include:
- Ensuring the accused's court appearance: you are responsible for ensuring the accused attends court as required. Remind them of their approaching court dates and ensure they appear at all trials and hearings.
- Financial responsibility: Once you cosign a person's bond, you guarantee the payment of the entire bail value if the accused fails to attend court. That means you will be the one to pay the total bond value to the bondsman or court should the defendant fail to appear in court.
- Keeping the bondsman updated: If the accused fails to attend court, immediately inform the bondsman or company. The bondsman might have resources or information to help find the accused and ensure they appear in court.
- Possibly lose collateral: if you provided collateral to secure the bond, like your car or home, you could lose it should the defendant fail to make court appearances. In that case, the bondsman might repossess or foreclose on the collateral.
It is essential to note that you agree to assume significant legal and financial responsibilities whenever you co-sign a person's bond. When considering co-signing a bond for someone, look at the possible consequences and risks before deciding.
Your Responsibilities as The Defendant
When you secure a bail release, you must fulfill particular responsibilities. The following are a few of the main responsibilities you have:
- Attending court hearings: If released on bail, your key responsibility is to attend court on all scheduled proceedings and the trial. If you do not attend court, the judge may issue a bench warrant for your arrest, and you may forfeit your bail money.
- Maintaining good conduct: you should avoid legal trouble while out on bail. Any new charges or arrests can result in a revocation of your bail and your return to custody.
- Comply with the terms and conditions of your release. You must also adhere to the conditions of your release. These may include avoiding alcohol and drugs, refraining from talking to certain individuals, or staying within particular geographic boundaries.
- Keep in touch with your lawyer. You need to stay in contact with your legal counsel. This is especially true if you have any concerns or questions about your bail or case. The law can also assist in ensuring you fulfill all your responsibilities while out on bail.
If you fulfill all the above responsibilities, the court will return the bail amount to the party that paid it at the end of your trial. The court will return the money irrespective of the trial's outcome. If you fail to fulfill your responsibilities, you may forfeit the bail amount and face more legal consequences.
When Can You Not Forfeit Your Money After Skipping Bail?
As mentioned, once you pay cash bail, you risk losing the total bail amount to the court. The same will apply to a bail bond, except the Morongo Valley bail bonds service that paid the bond will forfeit the amount. If you had provided collateral to secure the bond, the company might sell it to recover the money it owes to the court. The company would retain a bounty hunter to locate you if you did not provide collateral.
If you are rearrested, the bounty hunter will receive part of the bond money as payment. They can seize you and return you to the police if the jurisdiction from which you fled. There is a specific deadline for your return. Failure to which the bonds must pay the whole bail amount.
However, if you appear within a hundred and eighty days of the forfeiture date and provide valid reasons for your disappearance, the court might revoke judgment and release the money. These reasons include:
- You suffered from a medical condition. Accompany this with a medical statement or report.
- You suffered injuries.
- You have a mental illness.
- You are or have been disabled and were unable to attend.
- You were in prison in another area or state.
Skipping bail has severe criminal and financial penalties. It also justifies the court increasing or denying you bail in later court cases when you have settled the present case and your arrest again.
Benefits of Posting Bail
Posting Bail to secure a pretrial release can benefit you and your loved ones. The following are some of the primary benefits of doing so:
- Assists you in maintaining your job and other responsibilities.
- It allows you to prepare for your trial.
- Provides you and your loved ones with emotional support.
- Lowers the financial stress of incarceration.
- It assists in avoiding losing employment opportunities.
Jail Information
The Central Detention Center
630 E. Rialto Ave.,
San Bernanardino, CA 92415
Phone No.: 909-386-0969
Court Information
Joshua Tree Courthouse
6527 White Feather Road
Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Phone: 760-974-3048
Find a Reliable Morongo Valley Bail Bonds Service Near Me
Arrests in Morongo Valley happen unexpectedly, and even if the judge grants bail, you may be unable to post it. It is okay if you cannot afford bail because we at El Don Bail Bonds can help you. We have helped people post bail for decades and can do the same for you. We offer affordable and fast Morongo Valley bail bonds so our clients do not spend more time in custody than necessary. Our services are also confidential and reliable, and we offer flexible payment options that meet your needs and budget. Call us whenever you need our help at 760-342-0444, and we will be available to serve you.