How Does Bail Work In San Diego?

Have you ever received a call from a loved one after they got arrested? Your immediate thoughts were probably:

• How can I get them out?
• I don’t want them to spend the night, or several nights, in prison.
• Is there anything I can do to help?

Luckily, you don’t have to stress out too much. Ease your worries and know that you can bail your loved one out of jail in San Diego, so that they don’t have to spend extra time behind bars.

What does that process look like? Let’s talk about it.

What Is Bail In San Diego?

‘Posting bail’ in real life is nearly the same process as what crime television shows broadcast week after week. It’s a simple process, and if you don’t know the jist, follow along here.

Bail is the sum of money that warrants the release of the defendant. That means that once that price tag is paid to the jail, the person that was arrested can go home until it’s time to appear in court.

The tricky thing with bail is that if it’s not posted, the defendant will have to remain in jail until the day of the first court date. Unfortunately, court dates don’t jump up immediately. They take weeks, sometimes months, to be processed and scheduled. So the last thing you want is your loved one in an uncomfortable jail cell for days on end.

Now, the cost of bail will always vary and depends on what the judge sets it at. The more serious the crime, the more money bail will be. What’s more is that if it’s exceptionally serious, bail may not be granted at all. Other key factors that determine the set price include whether or not the defendant has committed other crimes, what that crime history actually is, and what their flight risk may be.

How Do You Bail Someone Out Of Jail In San Diego?

Find out where they are.

First things first, you need to locate the person you are trying to bail out of jail. Without that information, you won’t get far, especially considering you need to bring the sum amount directly to the jail.

To find the defendant, simply go to the Sheriff’s Who’s in Jail website and type in their first and last name. From there, you’ll be able to obtain their base arrest information which will lead you to their location and bail amount. Note: It may take a little bit of time for all of the relevant information to be uploaded into this system, so give it a little bit of time.

Figure out how the payment process works.

Bail was created so that defendants can return home, not so that they’ll be stuck in jail until their court date. That’s why paying bail is a relatively simple process.

You can either:

• Pay bail in full using cash, a cashier’s check, or any other relevant form of payment that the jail accepts
• Pay the bail using property, where your property becomes collateral
• Pay the bail using a bail bonds company – this option will cost you a 10% non-refundable portion of the full bail; the bail bonds company will take care of the remaining 90%

If you need help with understanding bail, finding your loved one, or posting bail, please reach out to our professionals at Synergy Bail Bonds. We’d be more than happy to assist with all of your bail needs in San Diego, CA. Our website even offers important information, additional resources, generalized FAQ’s, and discounts. Reach out today and we’ll make sure your loved one is home and safe until their first court date.