Do you have a friend or family member that was recently arrested? It can be difficult to come up with the money for bail bonds unexpectedly, and let’s face it, arrests and bailing someone out of jail are never expected. Sometimes coming up with 10 percent of the total bail amount can be difficult too. Recently, the state of California made a change to bail bonds allowances that can be a real game-changer for hardworking people that have never been in jail before. Are you familiar with 1 percent bail bonds in San Diego? Read on to find out more! 

Why are Bail Bonds Important? 

Unfortunately, in life, there is no such thing as a “get out of jail free” card like in Monopoly. Typically, bail bonds cost 10 percent of the total bond amount. That can be a good chunk of money, even for lesser charges. Bail is an incentive for defendants to appear in court when they are required to while also being able to continue going to work and enjoying other aspects of their life while their case is pending. But, most people cannot pay the full bail amount up-front. 

This is where bail bonds providers come in – they are able to post the bail, while the defendant (and any co-signers) are then responsible to fulfill their contractual agreement with the bail bonds provider. It’s similar to a loan, really. Bail bonds providers play an important role in the justice system and work with the courts and jails daily. They are able to work out the details quickly and confidentially to get people back out of jail fast. They put up the full amount of bail and work out a down-payment and payment plan with the defendant and the co-signers. Not all bond arrangements require co-signers, but some, like 1 percent bail bonds, do. Curious? Find out more about 1 percent bail bonds in San Diego near you!

Qualifications for 1 Percent Bail Bonds

Recently, the state of California began allowing bail bonds agents to offer bail bond financing with only 1 percent down payments. There are specific criteria that have to be met before a bail bonds agent is allowed to offer such a low percentage down-payment. Both the Defendant and the Co-signers have certain qualifications that much be met. 

The qualifications for Defendants include the following: 

• must be a resident of California.
• must be located in jail in Southern California. 
• must be a first-time offender. 
• cannot have any warrants.
• must have been arrested within the last 48 hours. 
• Only applies to certain charges. 
• Does not apply to:
  • Federal cases
  • Immigration cases
  • Out of state charges
  • Receiving stolen property
  • Prostitution
  • Pandering
  • Drug charges

The qualifications for the Co-signers include the following: 

• Must be two co-signers with recent paystubs as proof of employment.
• Must have a gross annual income that exceeds the bail amount.  
• Must have proof of residency in the state of California. 
• Must have California identification. 

Additional qualifications include an additional 2 percent payment due within 10 days and payments are due monthly. The remainder of the bail amount must be paid within 12 months or less. 

Although 1 percent bail bonds do not affect the total bond amount, it can be very helpful for people to get out of jail and back to work. Everyone makes mistakes and sometimes those can land you in jail. But, being to get back out quickly means a lot of people don’t have to lose their jobs. Call today to talk to us about 1 percent bail bonds in San Diego!