If you get arrested in Soledad, California, you can get out on bail while you wait for your trial. There are different ways to post bail, but working with a good Soledad bail bonds company is usually the best option, especially if you can’t afford the full bail amount. Our team at King Stahlman is here to help with your inquiries and provide affordable services to get you released quickly. We’re available 24/7 to serve you regardless of the time of day or night.
How Soledad Bail and Bail Bonds Work
In California, bail is basically the amount of money that you pay to the court that lets you go home before your trial. You can pay bail by using cash, valuable property, or by using a bail bonds service.
If you or your family can’t cover the whole bail amount, you can pay a Soledad bail bonds agent a non-refundable 10% fee. Sometimes, the bondsman might ask for collateral, too. This collateral can be worth the same or more than the bail amount and can include things like jewelry or real estate.
Bail Amounts in California
Each county in California has its own bail schedule that lists bail amounts defendants pay for different crimes. You can get out of custody by paying the listed bail amount from the schedule. The bail amounts can really differ based on the crime and where it happened.
Usually, the more serious the offense, the larger the bail. For example, bail for felonies can be five to ten times more than for misdemeanors.
Other things that can affect how much bail you have to pay include:
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Your job history and finances
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What happened during the purported crime
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Your ties to the community
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Your current parole or probation status
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If you’ve skipped bail before
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Any history of drug abuse or mental health issues
Police won’t take any bail amount other than what’s listed in the bail schedule. If you’d like to obtain a much lower bail sum, you should ask the presiding judge during the bail hearing or arraignment. Based on your situation, the presiding judge can adjust the bail sum or even let you go without paying anything upfront.
Getting the Court to Lower Your Bail Amount
Here are some things your defense lawyer might talk about to help get your bail lowered or to get you released on your own recognizance:
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Community Safety — Your lawyer can claim that you won’t pose a threat to anyone if you’re released. It works better if you’re facing a nonviolent charge
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Community Connections — Having a steady job and strong family ties shows you’re less likely to skip town. Judges appreciate it when your employer and family show up to support you in court
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Criminal History — Your lawyer will highlight your past with the state’s justice system. If you don’t have a criminal record, they’ll make that clear and show that you deserve to have the bail lowered
Usually, having a good lawyer at your bail hearing is a big help. Experienced defense attorneys know what specific judges care about when deciding on bail or Own Recognizance release. Plus, your defense attorney will chat with the prosecution before the bail hearing to help show the court that your charges aren’t as serious as they seem. Lastly, judges tend to take arguments from lawyers more seriously than those from people representing themselves.
California Bail Conditions
Besides setting the bail amounts, judges can add specific rules that the defendant must follow when released. These rules help keep defendants out of jail before their trial if they’re likely to attend court and aren’t a danger to anyone.
Some possible conditions include:
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Giving up your driver’s license and passport
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Counseling for mental health or domestic violence
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Treatment for substance abuse
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House arrest with an electronic monitor
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Travel restrictions
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Staying away from the alleged victim
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Do not drive if you’ve had any alcohol
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Regular check-ins online, by text, or on the phone with a designated agency
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Handing over any weapons
If you don’t follow these conditions, the court can take away your bail.
Skipping Bail in Soledad
If you miss your court date, the presiding judge will take away your bail money and issue an arrest warrant for you.
If you paid cash for bail, you could lose all of it. The same goes for bail bonds, but your Soledad bail bondsman would be responsible. If you presented something as a security deposit, your bail agency could sell it to cover the amount lost. If there’s no collateral, they might hire bounty hunters to find you.
Bench warrants are created when court staff fill out the documentation, the judge approves it, and the authorities execute it for your arrest. Police are alerted about the warrant through their systems, and you’ll also get a copy in the mail. Once you know about the warrant against you, you can either wait for an arrest before your trial or go to court. Usually, the authorities can catch you off guard, whether at home, work, or during a random traffic stop.
But if you show up in court within six months of the forfeiture, the court might cancel the forfeiture and clear your bail bonds. It’s a good idea for your lawyer to reach out to the courtroom clerk and let them know you’re planning to appear. The judge could then set a hearing for you to explain why you missed court or pay fines to sort things out. If you’ve got a good reason for missing court, the judge might take back the warrant.
Here are some valid excuses you might have:
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You didn’t get the court notice because it was sent to the wrong postal address
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You mixed up the date
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You had to deal with an emergency, like dealing with a sudden health issue
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You couldn’t make it to court and didn’t have a way to let them know
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You were held in another police custody for another issue
You can’t use these as excuses for missing court:
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You didn’t want to go
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You had other things to handle
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You thought you were innocent
Soledad Court and Jail Information
Superior Court of California, County of Monterey
240 Church St,
Salinas, California 93901
Correctional Training Facility
Soledad Prison Rd,
Soledad, California 93960
Soledad Police Department
236 Main Street,
Soledad, California 93960
Find an Experienced Soledad Bail Bonds Company Near Me
Getting an unexpected call from your loved one who’s been arrested can be stressful and confusing. Arrests don’t happen at convenient times, and the justice system can be tricky to navigate.
King Stahlman is here to help, so your loved one doesn’t have to stay in jail until their court hearing. We can explain California laws, the arrest procedures, the bail bond process, and let you know what options you have. Call us today at 619-232-7127 to speak to one of our bail bondsmen.
