Being arrested is challenging, and while proving your innocence is important, your most immediate concern should be getting out of jail. Remaining in custody will interfere with your job, family responsibilities, and ability to build a strong defense strategy. The sooner you secure your release, the sooner you can start fighting your case.
This is where El Don Bail Bonds can help. If bail is set incredibly high, we will provide the financial assistance you need to secure your release. Our expert team moves fast to post bail for you so you are released immediately. Do not let an arrest derail your life. Get in touch with our Murrieta team, and let us help you.
What Happens Following My Arrest?
Following an arrest, the authorities will transport you to the station to process your details. When booking, officers document your arrest by logging your personal information onto the National Crime Information Center (NCIC)" database.
Initial verification requires police to ask for your full name, date of birth, and address to confirm your identity. Police officers can also take your fingerprints to check them against police databases and determine if you have any outstanding warrants.
During booking, police officers take your mugshot from different angles. The police take your photo during the arrest because it will function as your official identifying image.
A thorough search follows this. Officers will search you for weapons, drugs, and material evidence related to the offense you are alleged to have committed. After securing the piece of evidence, the officers will lock it safely until it is transferred or released. Law enforcement officers will seize ownership of all your personal belongings. This can include your wallet, phone, and jewelry. However, you will receive them when released from custody.
Police officers will ask about your employment situation, medical history, and any medications you take. They will also learn about your unique needs that should be handled while inside the station.
If they have not done so, the officers will book you and read your rights. Through your Miranda rights, police advise you to remain silent during interviews because whatever you say can become evidence against your defense. These rights also include a right to have an attorney present.
After collecting your relevant personal information, you will be assigned a booking or inmate number, and the court will determine your bail amount. You will be released on bail when you meet the eligibility requirements by paying the entire bail amount or using a bail bond.
Understanding Bail and Murrieta Bail Bonds
The court gives you three options to secure your release before your trial:
- Pay bail in cash
- Use your property to secure your release or
- Use Murrieta bail bonds
When you want to be released before your trial, you must post bail that shows proof of your court appearance. Bail is the money you pay to ensure you are released and attend all court dates. A court sets requirements you must meet through the judicial process and then typically returns your bail payment when the case ends. However, fees and fines could reduce the amount you will receive at the end of your trial. If you do not attend court, the courts keep the total bail, and a bench warrant may be issued for your arrest.
You can use Murrieta bail bonds if you cannot post cash bail or use your property to secure your release.
A bail bondsman will pay your bail for you in exchange for a non-refundable fee, usually 10% of the total bail amount. This fee is a payment to your bondsman to guarantee your appearance in court. A bondsman will work to ensure you appear for all of your court hearings. Sometimes, they may request property, a car, or another asset as collateral. If you fail to appear in court, the bondsman must pay the full amount of bail, and he/she will attempt to recoup that money from you or take any property you put down as collateral.
Your bail amount will depend upon the seriousness of your charges.
Bail Hearings in Murrieta
A bail hearing is vital in securing your release before the trial begins. During bail hearings, the court weighs your rights against the community's safety, among other things.
During this session, both sides make their case, your defense attorney and the prosecution. When the prosecutor believes you could flee or pose a danger to the community, they usually request high bail. Otherwise, they will simply ask the judge to keep you behind bars. Your history of committing the same crime may be considered along with your past behavior in court.
Your defense lawyer, on the other hand, will attempt to have you released with the lowest bail possible or on your own recognizance. Your lawyer might highlight your job, family, and community ties to show that you are not a flight risk.
Your lawyer could further recommend that the court impose terms like electronic surveillance, travel limits, or regular check-ins to pretrial services to reassure the court that you will comply with all terms.
When making a decision, the judge takes several issues into account, namely:
- The type of offense you are charged with — This can significantly affect the terms of your bail. More serious ones can convince the judge to increase bail or deny you bail
- A history of violent crimes or not showing up to court — This past weighs against being let free on bail.
- You are a flight risk — If the court decides you might flee because you do not have a strong relationship with your community, have access to significant financial resources, or have connections outside Murrieta, the judge will increase bail or refuse bail.
- You pose a risk to the public — If the court believes you could harm members of the public, especially if your case involves a violent offense, judges might not let you out on bail.
However, mitigating factors like a steady job, helping the community, or problems with your health may help you.
The judge has various options based on these factors, namely:
- The judge can set a bail amount — You either pay the full amount or use Murrieta bail bonds. The judge can impose specific conditions for your release. It could include remaining under house arrest and having a monitoring device on you.
- In some cases, the court may release you on your own recognizance — This is likely if they believe you will appear in court.
- In case of serious crime or significant risk, the judge could deny bail, which may result in your remaining in custody before and throughout your trial.
Who is a Cosigner?
Your friends, family, or loved ones may become cosigners to help you get released if you are arrested and cannot secure your bail bond. Even though this is a crucial step to getting you out of custody, it imposes important responsibilities for the cosigners. When someone agrees to be a cosigner for your bail bond, they agree to ensure you show up for court.
The cosigner's primary responsibility is monetary. If you fail to attend court, the cosigner becomes liable for the entire bail value. In these situations, the bondsman can go after the cosigner for the total amount, which may burden them with a bill they cannot afford. This means losing any property or asset they attached as collateral. It puts the cosigner at considerable financial risk if you skip court.
Cosigners often take on a quasi-supervisory role to ensure you comply with all court conditions. This can include:
- Reminding you about upcoming hearings
- Ensuring that you adhere to curfews or no-contact orders, or
- Helping you with a ride to court to ensure compliance
The cosigner also faces personal risks. If you flee or do not fulfill your responsibilities, your relationship with the cosigner may suffer. Moreover, the cosigner’s reputation may suffer in their community or workplace. In rare instances, your cosigner may face legal repercussions, including having to explain your absence in court or aid in locating you.
The cosigner's obligation lasts until your case is fully settled or the bond has been officially exonerated. Your case may take months or years, depending on how long your legal proceedings take. Throughout this duration, the cosigner must remain vigilant and involved to ensure you comply with all legal requirements.
Having someone cosign on your Murrieta bail bonds is a serious commitment for both parties. Anyone who agrees to cosign should fully understand the potential consequences and responsibilities they are taking on.
Legal Consequences of Not Showing Up in Court
Bail release is a conditional pre-trial release that grants you freedom from custody with conditions. It is essential to show up in court for every hearing. If you violate this condition or any other, your bail could be revoked, and you could be taken back into custody and face further legal consequences.
Failing to appear in court after being released on bail violates that condition, and a crime is called “failure to appear” or “bail jumping.” This could lead to serious repercussions.
If you fail to show up on a court date without a valid reason, the court will likely issue a warrant for your arrest. The court will forfeit your bail, which indicates their lack of trust in you to return. Because of this, you will be taken back into custody until a new hearing is scheduled or different conditions are set.
Moreover, if you fail to appear, you will face a new criminal charge. Depending on the seriousness of the offense and whether it is your recurrent offense, you could face misdemeanor or felony charges for failing to appear. This failing-to-appear charge complicates your situation and can lead to a fine or jail time.
This failure may have long-term adverse effects on your case. If you have a history of failing to appear, the court may perceive you as unreliable. If this happens, you run the risk of a higher bail amount. The presiding judge may deny your bail request altogether. If you paid the bail in cash, the courts will forfeit the bail. If the bail was posted with a surety bond, the bondsman or cosigner is now liable for the entire amount, or they could face financial losses.
On a personal level, your failure to appear will result in a delay in resolving your case. This can strain your relationships, affect your job, and add even more stress and a financial burden.
Is Cash Bail or Bail Bonds Refundable?
After you have satisfied all release conditions, including attending all your court dates and fulfilling any other terms ordered by the court, how your bail is treated depends on whether you posted cash bail or a bail bond.
If you paid cash bail, the court will usually give you back the full amount of bail when your case ends by acquittal, dismissal, or sentencing. However, this return does not happen automatically. The court could withhold a portion for administrative fees and costs, fines, or other money you owe as part of your sentence. It can take time to get your bail back and may require a formal request for the return.
If you used Murrieta bail bonds, you would only incur the fee that would go to the bail bondsman. This non-refundable fee is usually between 10% and 15% of the total bail amount, which means the bondsman gets to keep this money. The fee is for their services, risks, and administration costs. Since it is a service charge, you will not receive it back even if you meet all release conditions. However, if you offer collateral, like property or assets, to back the bond, you will get that collateral back after your case ends and all obligations are fulfilled. Once your case is resolved, the bondsman is no longer entitled to said collateral, although some bail bondsmen could charge you for the costs of holding or insuring the collateral.
The judge will exonerate the bond, so the bondsman is no longer liable. The bail bondsman retrieves the bond amount from the court. However, this is a transaction between the bail bondsman and the court. You do not receive any money from this process as the defendant or the cosigner.
How to Choose a Reliable Bail Bondsman
When you need a bail bondsman, choosing one that will ensure your release goes smoothly is crucial. A good place to start is by asking attorneys, particularly defense lawyers who deal with bail bondsmen, or friends and family who have used these services. Check out Murrieta bail bond companies through thorough online research, too. Look for their Yelp, Google Reviews, and Better Business Bureau (BBB) reviews. You can also check the reviews of the bail bondsman’s website.
Ensure the bondsman you are considering is licensed to operate in California or Riverside County. The local authorities, like the Department of Insurance, usually govern this. Bail bondsmen who are part of professional organizations like the Professional Bail Agents of the United States (PBUS) can also indicate that they are committed to industry standards.
Experience is critical. Bail bondsmen who have worked for many years will have good relationships with local jails. Moreover, they will have good practical knowledge of the local legal system, which helps to expedite the release process. Make sure they are available 24/7, as bail situations can arise at times.
When you engage with a bondsman, pay attention to their transparency regarding the fees and the contract. A reliable bondsman will explain costs clearly without hidden fees. Before you sign the contract, make sure you understand it fully. Confirm whether or not you will have to offer collateral and when it will be returned to you after your case is resolved.
Customer support is also vital. A professional bondsman will offer support and guidance throughout the process. See if they respond when you call or go to their office. This will show you how easy they are to reach.
Discuss payment options upfront. If the price is challenging to afford, ask about payment plans. Be clear about the kinds of collateral they take and their return policy when the case ends.
See if the bail bondsmen have actual client feedback or ask for references for proof. Online reviews may provide a broader perspective, but check positive and negative feedback.
If the bondsman is close enough, meet them in person or on a video call to assess their professionalism and address any questions you might have. Ultimately, trust your instincts. If there is something off about the experience, you should look for another bail bondsman.
Jail and Courthouse Information in Murrieta
Southwest Detention Center or Cois M. Byrd Detention
30755-B Auld Road,
Murrieta, CA 92563.
The Southwest Justice Center.
30755-D Auld Road,
Murrieta, CA 92563
Find a Reliable Murrieta Bail Bondsman Near Me
Securing bail and your release from jail in Murrieta can be daunting or intimidating. A professional bail bondsman comes in handy in this situation. At El Don Bail Bonds, we appreciate the urgency of the problem. We help bring clarity in this tough time, further providing support and a caring approach to facilitate the timely release of your loved one.
We are available 24/7, so we operate by your schedule and not vice versa. Our fees are transparent, and our flexible payment options mean you can choose the best method. When you choose us, we do not just post bail. We help you every step of the way. Call us today at 760-342-0444, and let us work together to turn this troubling time into one where you feel informed and supported.