What is the Lowest Bail Amount?

To know the lowest bail amount in California, you first have to know some information about how bail works in the state. 

At present, the state bail system is pretty similar to the way it’s always been. Once the defendant is arrested, he or she will be taken to jail and booked accordingly. The bail value will be set re: the specific crime, and bail will need to be posted to secure release.

How does the defendant pay bail?

The least likely option is for the defendant to get the full amount of bail and pay the courts directly. But considering how costly bail can be, most arrested folk avoid this suggestion.

Most work with a bail bond company. Upon request, a bail bondsman will post the full bail amount and request a 10% overall fee from the dependant. Once the fee is paid, the bail is posted and the arrested person will be released pending trial outcomes. 

What if the defendant does not post bail?

If bail is not posted, the District Attorney has up to three business days to arraign you. This excludes weekends and holidays. 

Arraignment requires the DA to formally bring you to court and file the necessary charges. If no charges are filed, they’re required by law to release you from jail. 

What happens if you skip court(s) dates?

Upon posting bail, you must appear in court on all the scheduled dates. If you don’t, bail will be forfeited and a warrant will be issued for your immediate arrest. 

If a bail bond company is involved, the company will request and demand full reimbursement from you or the cosigner you have on record. 

If there is, by chance, a reasonable excuse for missing a court date, you will have 180 days to appear and your attorney may be able to get the bail back depending on the courts.

Bail Amounts by Crime

Bail is always based on the offense and jurisdiction of which the crime was committed. 

Bail amounts will incur different costs, per the bail schedule. 

As far as California goes, we have one of the highest median bail rates in the country. This number comes in at about $50,000, which is five times higher than that of the rest of the country. 

Some of the most commonly charged crimes consist of the following:

• Reckless driving: $1,000
• Baseline theft: $1,000
• First offense DUI: $2,500
• Possession of Concealed Weapon: $10,000
• First offense misdemeanor domestic violence: $10,000
• Felony perjury: $15,000
• Misdemeanor child molestation: $20,000
• Felony money laundering: $25,000
• Felony domestic violence with a prior conviction: $50,000
• Carjacking: $75,000
• Rape: $100,000
• Voluntary manslaughter: $100,000
• Felony DUI: $100,000

If the crime committed is not in the bail schedule, it’s likely listed under catch-all provisions. 

If a misdemeanor is not listed in the county chart, it’ll typically have a bail amount of $5,000. Unlisted felonies will be determined based on potential sentencing. The general guideline California courts follow is this:

• Offenses punishable by 3 years or less have a $20,000 bail
• Offenses punishable by life imprisonment have a $1,000,000 bail
• Life imprisonment without parole or death penalty imprisonments are ineligible for bail 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding low bail in the state of California, or any topics surrounding bail, please contact Synergy Bail Bonds. We have experienced professionals waiting by the phones and computers ready to assist in any way that they can.

Please keep in mind that we specialize in bail bonds and bail bond resources. We can assist you or your loved ones, releasing you from jail until your court hearings begin. Call us today to find out more information on how the whole process works 1-866-320-8050.