Many defendants are in jail today because of pretrial detention. They are yet to be found guilty of their charges but remain in jail awaiting trial. However, these individuals require bail to secure pretrial release. Unfortunately, California’s bail system discriminates against the poor because they are the ones who stay behind bars as they cannot consolidate the bail funds. On the other hand, the middle class and the wealthy do not remain in detention because they have funds or can turn to family members to raise the money. California bail funds aim to bridge the gap between wealthy and poor defendants by paying cash bail for parties that cannot afford bail due to poverty.
California Bail Funds Overview
Bail funds are charitable organizations funded by donations that pay cash bail on behalf of eligible suspects to avoid pretrial detention awaiting case determination. Bail is the first line of defense. Therefore, when these suspects access funds to post bail, they regain freedom momentarily, enabling them to return to work, reunite with their families, have sufficient time to discuss their cases and avoid the adverse effects of lengthy incarceration.
These charitable organizations that set up the funds are community-based and help locals address systemic problems in the criminal system, like the bail system. The funds address inequality in the justice system. Therefore, if you are poor and eligible for bail, the fund deposits cash bail to avoid pretrial detention for months or years, which is how long some criminal cases take before conclusion. That way, you retain your job and stay with your family as you attend court.
Bail funds have gained popularity recently because of the widespread protests that the country has witnessed in recent years. Although protests are protected under the First Amendment, they often lead to arrests, even for legitimate reasons. The constitutional right to protest does not always cover all conduct in the demonstration. However, many individuals recognize that peaceful and honest protesters should not be apprehended. In case of arrest, these charitable entities and individuals pay cash bail for the protesters to exit jail.
Bail Funds vs. Bail Bonds
Bail funds and bail bonds provide financial support to defendants who cannot afford bail. However, do not confuse the funds with bail bondsmen. If you are wealthy and have funds available, you can deposit cash bail to exit jail and regain your normal life. Also, as a middle-income earner, you have a good credit score and can borrow funds from loved ones or a credit card. Alternatively, you can turn to a bail bonds company to finance the pretrial discharge at a premium fee, usually 10%, depending on your case and choice of bail bondsman.
However, some defendants have committed minor offenses but are forced to stay in jail for months or years pending case determination because they cannot afford bail or the premium fee bail bondsmen charge. The fraction of bail companies charge for bail bonds seems like little, but raising the fee is an uphill task for many defendants. For instance, if the bail is $10,000 and the premium fee is 10%, a defendant must deposit $1,000 to regain freedom awaiting trial. Even if the company extends you a discount or a payment plan, you will have difficulties consolidating the funds if you are poor.
Where do you turn if you cannot afford the premium fee for bail bonds or are ineligible for the service? You can turn to California bail funds. These organizations deposit cash bail for your pretrial release and do not charge interest, unlike bail bond firms. Additionally, these organizations do not charge any fees for their services.
Bail Funds Qualification
Your qualification for the funds is the bail figure. Usually, you are eligible for the fund if you are charged with a minor violation that requires you only to deposit a small amount of money.
Similarly, funds pay cash bail for you depending on the nature of the crime. Some organizations fund all suspects irrespective of the crime they are accused of. Others are selective and restrict their assistance to individuals arrested in protests. Others go further to restrict their financial help only to people arrested protesting against particular rights violations or crimes like police brutality.
Some organizations also consider income. Certain funds restrict financial help to arrestees within a particular income limit, regardless of the reason for arrest.
Bail funds are beneficial but have downsides. First, it could take months to establish your eligibility for the funds, prolonging your detention. Once you establish eligibility, you must wait for an answer from the charitable organization you seek funding from before they can pay your bail. This is a lot of time to be away from your family or job. You could lose your job when you exit custody, making a prompt release necessary. Therefore, many low-income defendants turn to bail bondsmen because they are practical and ensure prompt pretrial release.
Benefits of California Bail Bonds
Staying behind bars can be challenging. If you lack bail money, your options are few, particularly if you do not seek professional assistance. The bail process is complex, and there are many obstacles you could face, hence the need to retain competent bail bond services. If you qualify for the bail bonds, you will enjoy several benefits for partnering with the firm, including:
Around-the-clock Availability
Arrests happen when you least expect them. They can happen at night, during weekends, or on holidays. If it is your first time, you will feel overwhelmed and stressed, and you will only be thinking about exiting jail as soon as possible. If you do not have the funds and do not want to involve your family, your best shot for a prompt and affordable release is a bail bonds service. These companies operate around the clock. Therefore, if you are arrested at night when most people you could call for assistance are asleep, a bail bondsman will be available to help you. They will start preparing the paperwork immediately, and if you sign the contract, you can be out in the morning before anyone notices.
Also, these companies can answer any questions regarding what to expect after arrest. Therefore, if you do not know what to expect, a bail bondsman will answer your questions anytime, giving you the peace you deserve.
You will need the bail bonds company even after you exit jail. After your release, the court imposes conditions you must abide by; otherwise, you risk bail revocation. When you work with a reliable bail bondsman, they will be available to remind you of the pretrial release conditions and offer guidance when needed.
Bail Bonds are Conveniently Located
Many bail bonds firms are situated close to courts and jails. Therefore, when you call the company and sign the agreement, they will send a bail bondsman to your jail to help with your release. Also, if you have called a loved one to help you with the release, the person can conveniently find the company's offices, unlike when looking for a charitable fund to deposit your cash bail. These organizations are difficult to find and could further delay your pretrial release even if you are qualified.
Online Bail Bond Services
Online bail bond services have simplified posting bail using bail bonds. Many bail bonds have taken their services only, and with a phone call, computer, and internet connection, one can secure a pretrial release quickly and affordably. In the past, one had to travel to the company’s physical offices to complete the process, which made it difficult for arrestees, especially when the person they depended on to facilitate the process was out of town.
Thankfully, today, all you need is to access the online bail forms via a smartphone or computer, regardless of your location. Once you access the forms, you should provide all the details the company demands. The company then responds, requesting additional details or offering its services.
Online bail bond services because you can complete the paperwork and pay the fee online, the process is simple. If you experience challenges posting bail, bail bondsmen are available around the clock to guide you.
If you partner with a firm that offers online services, you will exit jail as soon as possible.
Flexible Bail Bonds Financing Options
The fact that you are considering a bail fund to help you exit jail means you are a low-income earner, and even consolidating the fees for the bail bond services could be challenging. Reputable companies provide financing plans to keep the cost of the pretrial process minimal. The company only demands a small fraction of the fee in exchange for release. Once you regain freedom and are back at work, you can generate money to pay the company what you owe in installments.
Apart from agreeing to lower the required deposit to access the services, the company can extend the repayment duration to avoid causing financial strain. The payment plan works as a loan with low interest rates. When hiring a company, ensure they are transparent with these interest rates to avoid surprises that make the bail bonds expensive.
The benefit of a financing plan from a genuine company is the payment plans have lenient credit card conditions. Although your company will demand credit approval, they are more lenient than financial organizations. Mostly, the company demands approval to determine if you are a resident and can honor your financial obligation. You do not need a very high credit score to qualify for financing.
Discounts are also available for these plans. If you can secure a discount, the services become very affordable.
No collateral Required
If you are struggling with bail, even the property to put up as collateral for the bail bond is unavailable. This could discourage many people from seeking these services because the company normally demands property collateral to secure the bond they deposited for you. If you default, the company loses their bond. When this happens, they seize the property used as collateral and sell it to recoup their losses.
Putting your lifetime investment on the line for a pretrial release can be scary and could force you to turn to lending institutions for a loan to secure bail. The right bail bonds company will not put this immense pressure on you where you must risk your property to regain freedom. Therefore, if you qualify, the company can offer you a no-collateral bail bond service where you can regain freedom without using your property as collateral.
1% Down Payment on Bail Bonds
The best bail bonds in the industry will provide their services if you deposit only one percent of the fees and agree to clear the balance in twelve months. The advantage is these plans have no financing fees or interest rates.
These companies, unlike charitable organizations, must operate on profits because they do not rely on donations. They charge a fee to run the business. However, because bail can be expensive, you should explain your economic position to the company to find a way to help you leave jail at a small cost and pay the balance once you regain freedom. However, the company must consider these factors:
- Your criminal record
- Offense’s nature
- Employment status
- The sentence you are likely to face
- Your credit rating
Considering this option, you must have an excellent credit score.
Confidentiality
The DA anticipates your capacity to raise bail, mainly if it is hefty. When you deposit bail in cash, they could begin to question the source of the funds. If their concerns are genuine, the court could put a hold on the cash bail until you prove that the funds were acquired legitimately. It can take days for the court to set a hearing to hear the case and make a decision, meaning an extended stay in jail. Nevertheless, when you turn to a bail bondsman, the prosecutor will not inquire about your finances because they know the source of the funds the licensed company uses to deposit your bond. So, when you use a company, you avoid scrutiny, keeping your finances confidential. The lack of scrutiny streamlines the release process.
You do not go to friends and family for help whenever you are arrested. Sometimes, you want to keep the arrest confidential. However, you cannot do this if you call them seeking financial assistance to post bail. Also, you want your stay in jail to be short so that no one notices your absence. Bail bonds companies help you maintain confidentiality by financing your release within the shortest duration. Besides, they will keep the details of your arrest confidential to eliminate the worry of people finding out and your reputation being dented.
You Obtain Expert Guidance
Bail bonds firms do not just assist you in regaining freedom. They rely on their experience to walk you through the bail process. These experts will answer your questions regarding the process and your rights. If your rights were violated during detention, your bail bondsman will help you understand, and possibly you can raise the issue when fighting the charges in court.
The Company Takes Responsibility for Your Court Appearances
Regaining freedom is hard, but it is not the only challenge you will face. You must adhere to court conditions upon release. Many people who pay cash bail, whether from their pockets or bail funds, usually have no one to remind them to comply with court instructions to avoid bail forfeiture. As a result, many violate these requirements, losing the cash deposited with the court or ending up in jail again, and with few chances of another pretrial release.
However, when it comes to bail bonds when you sign the contract and secure liberty, the company is responsible for your future court meetings because their bond is at risk of forfeiture if you violate court terms, particularly skipping court. The company educates you about the court conditions and reminds you regularly to comply. They create a support system that lowers the risk of violation. Therefore, when you partner with a bail bondsman, you are not only obtaining financial support but also guidance and moral support to ensure your case ends without a violation, despite the outcome.
It is a Cheaper Option for Pretrial Release
Inequality in the bail system is evident, with many defendants with low incomes remaining in pretrial detention until the case conclusion. Bail bondsmen try to resolve the inequality just like bail funds, but differently. Instead of depositing property worth three times the bail money in a property bond or the full bail in cash, these companies demand only a fraction of the bail to ensure a fast and affordable release.
The company prioritizes your financial situation, which is why you keep the cost of regaining freedom low. Once free, you can use the funds that could have otherwise gone into cash bail to hire an attorney to help you win your case. Also, you can invest the money and generate income instead of paying cash bail, where the court reimburses the funds at the close of the case, less a certain amount.
Find a Competent Bail Bondsman Near Me
California bail funds are fixing a major problem with the bail system, but seeking the help of these organizations can delay your release. Also, not many people are eligible for the funds. If you seek a streamlined, prompt pretrial release and cannot afford cash bail, bail funds are not the only option. You should consider bail bonds because they are effective, fast, and affordable. At Justice Bail Bonds, we can help you secure freedom at a small fee. Call us at 714-541-1155 to discuss your case in Temecula.
