San Diego Criminal Lawyers Blog
After your arrest and detainment, a judge will typically set your bail. Bail is an amount of money that you post to be released from detention in jail. Once bail is set, you or your loved ones can pay it in the form of bail bonds, cash, or property. When you are bailed out of jail, you are expected to return for your scheduled court date. If you do not attend court, then you will lose the rights to the bail that was posted for you. If you attend your hearing, then you will be reimbursed.
If a judge decides that you should be released on what is called ‘your own recognizance,’ then you will not have to post any type of bail to be released from prison. If you or a loved one has been arrested and you are confused about the bail bond process, reach out to a San Diego criminal defense lawyer right away.
Who Can be Released on Their Own Recognizance in California?
Being released on your own recognizance (O.R.) means that the judge believes that you are trustworthy enough to come back for your court date without having to put up collateral, or bail. For the majority of the state of California, O.R. release does not just automatically happen, and while many criminal defendants may be eligible, not everyone is.
Those individuals seeking O.R. release cannot have any of the following be true:
- The charges are so substantial that a conviction can lead to a death sentence.
- The defendant’s release may put public safety in jeopardy.
- There is no belief that the defendant will actually come to their court date.
Being released on O.R. is the best possible outcome after an arrest, but getting to this point is not an easy task. This is one of the many reasons why having an experienced legal defense attorney on your side after you are arrested can be so invaluable. An attorney who knows the criminal justice system in California and understands exactly what is necessary to argue for O.R. release on a defendant’s behalf is a critical tool in preserving your freedom.
The San Diego criminal defense attorney David M. Boertje has a track record of success helping clients tangled up with the criminal justice system achieve O.R. release. If it is possible to get released on one’s own recognizance, attorney David M. Boertje can argue effectively on a defendant’s behalf to secure this ideal situation.
Speak to a San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney Today
Working with a seasoned legal professional after a California arrest best positions a defendant to obtain a favorable outcome for their case. To learn more about how the California criminal defense attorney David M. Boertje can help you after an arrest, please do not hesitate to call (619) 229-1870 for the San Diego office or (760) 476-0901 for the Carlsbad location to schedule a free, initial consultation.