The court does not schedule a trial for your charges immediately after arrest. The process between the arrest and the trial can be daunting. It can take months or years before the court decides your case. Remaining in pretrial detention throughout this period, when you are yet to be convicted, can be stressful and could tempt you to plead guilty to start serving your sentence. This is when you bring a bail bonds firm in Fillmore to help you regain freedom, awaiting trial if the judge has granted bail. At Future Bail Bonds, we will simplify the posting process and make it affordable.
The Bail Proceeding
After an arrest, the police can book you in the nearest police station. Once you are booked, they will check the Ventura County bail schedule to see if you qualify for release on bail before the first court appearance. If you are not, you must wait for the arraignment, which sometimes serves as the bail hearing for the court to rule on your bail. The law allows the proceeding to happen within 24 to 48 hours unless it is on a weekend or holiday.
In the hearing, the presiding judge rules whether to grant or deny you bail. Additionally, the court rules on whether to reduce or increase bail as provided in the schedule upon the request by the defendant. Also, a bail hearing allows you to eliminate bail through your own recognizance (OR) release.
If your bail has been set but you believe the amounts will strain you financially, you can ask the court to schedule a formal bail hearing to reduce your bail or grant an OR. Once you file for bail reduction, you should notify the prosecutor two days before the court date to make preparations if they want to oppose the reduction.
When the judge has the discretion to reduce your bail based on the facts presented, they can also increase the amount if the prosecutor submits missing evidence during the initial decision, such as a parole violation.
The increase or reduction must be within the law. If the amount is increased above what you can afford, it should not mean it is excessive or illegal. It means you will stay in pretrial detention. You will be eligible for a bail review within five days from the date of the initial bail if you have not posted bail.
Today, unless the prosecutor presents clear and convincing proof that there is a need to keep you in pretrial detention for the public's or the victim’s safety, you should be granted pretrial release without bail if you cannot afford to post the amount set, even after an automatic review. Before this type of release, the court holds a Humphrey Hearing to ensure you do not remain in detention because of a lack of funds.
Lastly, you can regain freedom via an OR, where no financial obligation is required. You qualify for this pretrial freedom option unless you face charges that attract a death penalty upon conviction, you are a threat to public safety, and the court cannot guarantee your future attendance.
Fillmore Bail
Bail is a guarantee in cash or property form that the court demands from a defendant to ensure they show up for arranged hearings. The security is forfeited if the defendant misses the court date or disregards other terms.
A few defendants can afford to pay bail, but this should not mean that most defendants who cannot raise bail remain in pretrial detention. Many exit jail by purchasing a bail bond at a small fee, usually 10% of the full bail. To buy a bail bond, you call a reputable Fillmore bail bonds firm, who agree to deposit a bond for your release. By depositing the bond, your company agrees to owe the full bail if you forfeit. If the court accepts the terms, it grants a bond order for your pretrial freedom.
A contract is then signed between the court, you, the accused, and your Fillmore bail bonds company. If you jump bail, the bail bondsman commits to paying the bond in full. In exchange for the services, you will pay the Fillmore bail bonds firm a non-refundable bond premium of 10%. The contract stays in effect even after you exit custody. The contract stops running when the court case is concluded and the bond is exonerated. However, if the defendant breaches the contract terms, the Fillmore bail bonds can terminate it. The defendant will be rearrested and detained until they secure another bail bond.
Steps of Acquiring a Bail Bond
You initiate the bail bonds process by calling your Fillmore bail bonds firm. When making the call on behalf of the defendant, you will need the following:
- The accused person’s name
- Booking name
- Jail location and name
- The bail figure
With these details, the bail process will be straightforward. However, even if information, like jail location and name, is unavailable, the bail bondsman can use resources like an online inmate locator to find the defendant.
Once you pay the premium and sign the contract, a bail bondsman will proceed to process the defendant’s freedom awaiting the trial.
Your responsibility as a cosigner does not end after the defendant’s release. When cosigning the contract, you deposit collateral to ensure that a breach of the release terms will lead to a loss to a family member, not the Fillmore bail bonds firm. So, as the indemnitor, you must keep a close eye on the defendant and ensure they comply with pretrial release terms, especially court attendance, until the case ends. Besides, if you agreed to pay the premium in installments, you should continue the payments until you clear the entire amount. The collateral will not be returned even after case conclusion, unless you have paid the full premium.
Jail and Court Information
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
East County Courthouse
Find a Responsive Bail Bonds Firm Near Me
Even if you are a law-abiding citizen, you can make mistakes that could place you in police custody. Whether innocent or not, you should secure pretrial freedom pending trial, which does not happen immediately. While you can seek a bail reduction or OR through a bail hearing, you will need a Fillmore bail bonds service to finance your bail if these options are unsuccessful. At Future Bail Bonds, we believe that you are better equipped for the trial if you are on the outside with your support system. Contact us at 619-880-8737 to start working on your pretrial freedom.
