San Diego Criminal Lawyers Blog
When you are under arrest by the police, your first thought might be, “Will I go to jail?” If you do go to jail, then your first thought might be, “How can I get out of here?” One way you can get out of jail is to post bail with the law enforcement agency that has you in custody. Your experienced criminal defense attorney can provide bail assistance by working to get the bail reduced.
Three Ways to Get Released from Jail
There are three ways for defendants to get released from jail – bail, cash bail, and on their own recognizance (OR). Although this article’s primary focus is the bail option, you should be aware of the other two options. These options are:
- Cash bail – paying the full amount of bail in cash
- O.R. – your own recognizance
How Does Bail Work in San Diego?
Depending upon the severity of the crime you are accused of, the bail amount will be a high amount or low amount. When a person is put in jail, the bail is set at a monetary value. For instance, the bail for a DUI causing injury, according to the San Diego County Court Bail Schedule, is $20,000. For murder, there is no bail.
Hearing the bail amounts can be confusing to people. Some family members are unable to pay the bail amount, which leaves their loved ones sitting in jail, for even a simple misdemeanor.
The way bail works is that the bail will be set at a certain amount, but through the use of a bail bondsman or bail company, only 10% of the bail is necessary to get out of jail.
Example of How Bail Works
The way bail works is serious business. Imagine that your bail is set at $2,000. When you hire a bail company, the company will cover the entire $2,000, in exchange for a $200 fee. When you show up to all of your court hearings, the company will get their $2,000 back, and still keep your $200. This is how the bail company makes a profit.
If you fail to appear at your court hearings and skip out on the bail that was paid for you, a bounty hunter may be sent to locate you and take you back to jail so they can recover their funds.
Are You Sitting in Jail for a Crime in San Diego?
If you or someone you know is sitting in jail for a crime in San Diego, contact David M. Boertje, the San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney for bail assistance. Attorney Boertje will work to convince law enforcement agencies and the court to reduce the amount of your bail.
He will make sure you are treated fairly while he fights for your rights. Call 888-476-0901 or contact us online for a free and confidential consultation regarding your criminal case. Affordable payment plans are available.