FAQ

After an arrest, the detainee is put behind bars until a bail hearing is set. At the bail hearing, a judge from the county you have been detained in will determine your bail based on different variables. Your bail amount can also be determined by the Los Angeles County bail schedule if you are arrested in Pasadena.
If you cannot afford to post bail, you will remain locked up until the judge sets a court date. This is where bail bond agents come in. A bail bonds agent helps clients detained behind bars who cannot afford to raise their bail amount. The bail agents will post bail for you in exchange for a non-refundable 10%. This fee can be lower depending on the eligible discounts that the company can offer you. The agents assure the court that you as the defendant will appear in court on the set dates.

There are various factors that the judge considers when determining the amount of bail a defendant is supposed to pay. These factors include:

• The defendant's criminal history ? If the defendant has an extensive criminal record, the judge will set a higher bail amount than a first-time offender.
• Does the defendant seem like a flight risk? ? If the defendant is considered a flight risk, meaning they are likely to evade before the set court date, their bail amount will be higher than a defendant who is not a risk.
• Does the defendant have any family obligations? ? When setting bail, the judge will consider the defendant's family responsibilities. For example, a defendant could be a caregiver, or a parent, and judges will consider that.
• If the defendant poses any risk to the society, ? If the defendant poses a high risk to the community, they may not be granted bail, and if given, their bail amount will be higher.
• The defendant’s community connections ? Defendants with strong community connections are likely to receive a lighter bail than those without community ties.

After an arrest, most arrestees are transferred to the Pasadena jail. Other defendants are taken to the South Pasadena Police Department, which has a temporary jail for arrestees with minor cases. A bondsman will guide you on the process and help you get your loved ones before they are transferred to a more extensive facility where bailing them out will be complex.

You should first contact a licensed bail bond agent to find out where your loved one has been detained, the charges they are facing, and the possible options. The jail process may vary, but a bail agent will guide you on the process, and the amount of time the defendant will be held in that specific jail before they are transferred. Contacting a bail company immediately helps get your loved one out of jail as soon as possible.

Yes. At times a defendant may be set free on their own recognizance. In this case, a defendant is only required to sign a contract with the court promising to appear on scheduled dates. However, this happens occasionally and not everyone is eligible to be released on own recognizance. Those who are likely to be released on own recognizance include:

• Defendants with strong community ties
• Those with a clean criminal record

Yes, you can post bail for your loved ones behind bars. The requirements to do so are also straightforward. The law requires you to be above 18 years and a legal U.S resident. When posting bail, you will be required to bring along the following documents:

• Your most recent utility bill to confirm your residency
• A recent proof of income
• A state identification or a driving license

You will also be required to know the following information about the defendant:

• Their date of birth
• The jail they are detained in
• The charges they are facing
• Their booking number in jail

There are different available options you can use to clear the defendant’s bail, including:

• Western Union
• Money order
• Credit card, or
• Cash

Bail paperwork takes 20 minutes at most to be processed.

The time it takes for a person to be set free after posting bail depends on the facility they are detained in, the number of people ahead of them, and the number of employees in the facility. Some facilities take up to 5 hours to release defendants who have bailed out, while others take less than an hour.

If you post another person’s bail, you will take the financial responsibility and be the co-signer. The duties of a co-signer include:

• Paying any premiums
• Make sure the defendant notifies the bondsmen of the court dates
• Ensuring the defendant appears in court on the set dates

Here are a few questions to consider before kicking off with a bail company:

• Is the company licensed? Ensure to only work with a licensed bail company as it can impact your overall outcome.
• How long has the company been operational? Working with an experienced bail company may significantly impact your outcome as well.
• What is the company's relationship with the Insurance Department in California? You can always check California’s Department of Insurance website to see if any complaints have been made regarding the company.
• How does the company treat its clients? You can learn about this by checking online reviews from different platforms. Ensure you work with a company that puts its clients first and offers quality professional services.

Once a defendant is bailed out by a licensed bail bond company, there are no travel restrictions unless there is a specific court order. But if a co-signer is against the defendant’s travel, the defendant will be restricted from traveling.

If a defendant fails to appear in court at the set court dates or violates any bail condition, they are likely to be re-arrested. They also risk having their collateral forfeited. It is important to ensure that you (the defendant) do not miss any court appearances. If you have any emergency or an arising issue that could stop you from attending the court hearing, always communicate earlier to your bail agent. Communicating with your bondsmen is essential as it could keep you out of trouble.

The first thing you should do is contact the bail bonds company to learn the options available. Note that you also have the right to ask the bail company to put the defendant back in jail. Although you could be forced to pay for this, it could save you rather than having the bail amount forfeited.

Bondsmen are not allowed to offer legal advice as lawyers should. That is why if your case is complex or you need advice on specific issues, we advise you to consult a skilled attorney. Note that the services provided by bail agents are different from those offered by an attorney.

After the defendant has shown up on all court dates as required and their case is closed, the bail bond will be exonerated. After this, the bonds company and the co-signer will not have any financial responsibilities to the court for the defendant’s case.

Once the final payment of the premium is made and the court exonerates the bond, the collateral taken from the co-signer will be given back to its owner. But, if the bond is forfeited, the collateral may also be lost. The collateral will be liquidated and used to clear unpaid premiums and other unpaid expenses. Before giving any collateral, it is essential to read the contract carefully and engage your bondsmen on the same.

Apart from cash, there are two other major types of bonds, which include:

• Property bond ⏤ In this type of bond, the court can place a lien on a property for the bail amount. But the process can be long. It is similar to having a property in escrow. If the defendant fails to appear in court at the set court dates, the court may order the property's closure.
• Surety bond ⏤ A surety bond is a form of contract between three different parties — the principal (which is the party being bailed out), the surety (which is the bail bonds company), and the obligee (which is the party requiring bail). Through this contract, the surety financially promises the obligee that the principal will abide by the terms set by the bond.

Once a licensed bail agent posts bail, the defendant will be set free on bail. This means they will be under the supervision of the bail company up to when they complete their appearances in court and their bond is exonerated.

If the charges are dropped and the case dismissed, the co-signer's responsibility for the bail bond ends, but the premium paid to the bail agents is not refunded. Regardless of the case outcome, the premium paid to the bondsmen remains non-refundable.

For a bail bond agent to help bail out your loved one, you must pay a bail bond premium to the bail company. Most bail agents will ask for a 10% premium which is non-refundable and works as their “profit.” For example, if the bail amount is $30,000, you will pay a $3,000 premium to the bondsmen before your loved one is set free.

The best way to know if you are liable for bail bonds is by calling a bail company. Most bondsmen will ask you various questions like your credit rating, home-ownership, employment status, family status, and citizenship. All these questions will help the bond company understand the risk they are getting into by signing the contract to help you.

This depends on the bail bond company you are working with. At Alomar Bail Bonds, bonds do not expire unless the case continues for too long. However, if the case continues for a year, we will not charge you annual premiums.

The defendant will remain behind bars as they await their hearing. On rare occasions, the judge may decide to release the defendant without posting bail, referred to as release by “own recognizance.” In this case, the judge will set the defendant of their own accord but will be required to appear in court on the designated court dates without failure.

When a defendant is bailed out, they are responsible for their actions. They are expected to:

• Appeal to all court dates as scheduled without failure
• Report any new court dates to their bail agents and keep them updated o the court process
• After being released from jail, the defendant is expected to report to their bail agent offices to complete any required paperwork

No, you do not have to accompany the defendant to court; however, if you feel like they might fail to show up, you may accompany them to clear your doubts.

No. The money paid to the bondsmen is non-refundable. However, on rare occasions, we will give your money back if we can't post bail for specific reasons.

There are legal and personal benefits to bailing someone out of jail. For example:

• It allows the defendant to return to their everyday life, work, or school as they wait for their hearing
• When you bail a loved one out, you express your love and support
• It gives the defendant time to look for a legal team and prepare solid defenses to fight their charges
• Helps the defendant to avoid punishment before conviction

If you raise the amount set as bail, you do the cash bail. For example, if the bail was set as $30,000, and you have the money in cash, you can pay the amount at the clerk’s window in jail. After the defendant has appeared on all court dates as scheduled, the money will only be deducted from the administrative fee (if any) and returned to its owner.

However, the one you pay could take a long time before being returned, which is why people prefer to use bail bonds since it is the easiest and fastest way to get your loved one out of jail.

Fortunately, our bondsmen are flexible and can meet you where it is convenient for you. It could be at a restaurant, at the jail, at your workplace, or even at your home. We can also get the paperwork to your most convenient location, or it can be done by phone or electronically.

Most times, the bail amounts are set so high for most people to afford. Instead of having your loved one locked up in jail, you could hire a bail bond agent and pay them a fraction of the amount, and they will help you get your loved one out of jail. In other words, bondsmen help you get your loved ones released even without the full bail amount.

If your loved one is arrested in Pasadena, CA, do not hesitate to contact Alomar Bail Bonds. We understand the court process and what is required to post bail, and we will do our best to expedite the release of your loved one. Call us today at 626-449-4118 for exceptional bail bond services. We are available 24/7, including holidays and weekends.