After committing a crime, an individual will be held in custody until trial. However, in most of the cases, the individual will be given a chance to pay the bail and walk out freely until trial.
In California, almost every defendant awaiting trial can secure a release, by paying the bail. Bail can be paid by any of the defendant’s family members, friends, and even the attorney.
In some cases, the family members could pay the bond and receive it after the trial. In other cases, bail is not refundable.
If your friend, family member or a loved one is arrested for the alleged sexual assault crime in California, you could help protect their constitutional rights. Contact one of the Los Angeles Sex Crime Attorneys and ensure that your loved one receives fair and equal treatment, as well as much-needed legal representation.
Who Is Eligible To Be Released on Bail?
Almost every state has the “Bail schedule”. It is the amount of money that a person needs to post for their loved one to be set free until trial. There are two ways of paying the bond:
- Using the bail bondsmen to post the scheduled bail
- Paying the entire scheduled bail
A bail schedule is different in every county within California. For instance, the bail may not be the same in Orange Country and in Los Angeles. However, there are some factors that help determine the bail and whether or not it should be given to the defendant:
- The defendant’s criminal history
- The seriousness of the crime
- Did the defendant had failures to appear in the past?
- Is the defendant on parole or probation?
Factors Determining the Bail Amount
In California, the criminal court takes everything into consideration before setting a bail schedule for the defendant. Factors listed below can affect the amount of bail set by the court:
- Will releasing the defendant endanger the community?
- Is the defendant at “flight risk”? (a person most likely to flee the state, city or country upon release)
- The severity and the nature of the offense (violence, large-scale felonies, dangerous criminal acts)
- Did the defendant use or possess any illegal substances?
- Did the defendant use a gun or other deadly weapons in the alleged crime?
- Did the defendant threaten the victim or any of the witnesses?
- Does the defendant have a record of any prior offenses or criminal acts?
Once everything is taken into consideration, the court will decide the bail amount for the defendant.
Keep in mind that you could file an appeal with your attorney or ask for the bail to be partially reduced. To do so, contact one of highly experienced Sex Crime Attorneys in Los Angeles, schedule a free consultation and explain the situation that your loved one is in. The attorneys will evaluate the case and if there is a way to help your loved one reduce the bail or file an appeal, they will help you do it. Also, your loved one may require legal help and support in the trial.
