A bad situation is made worse when an arrestee skips bail and fails to show up at their court appearance like they promised.
Whatever the original charges are, jumping bail will likely cost the defendant much more, in terms of both jail time and money, according to the bail experts at All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita.
The primary reason a person charged with a crime has to post bail in the first place is to ensure they appear in court to answer the charge/s against them.
The judge hearing the case determines an amount which the defendant pays as a promise to appear in court on a specific date, in exchange for their freedom for the time being.
Related: Bail Bonds In Santa Clarita: Who Is Eligible For Bail?
Going through a bail bonding company like All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita allows the defendant to pay 10 percent in cash while securing the balance with assets like a car or home. If a defendant jumps bail, he or she forfeits the collateral assets, and freedom between court hearings.
First, the presiding judge issues a bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest, and when the defendant is brought back into custody, the judge has the option to either raise or revoke bail.
The defendant may face additional charges, fines and/or jail time for skipping out on bail, on top of whatever penalties the defendant may face if convicted of the original crime.
Related: Bail Bonds In Santa Clarita: Components Of A Typical Bail Contract
If the defendant remains at large, it is the bondsman’s responsibility to find the defendant and to get him or her in front of the judge in the case.
The bondsman is also accountable for covering the bail amount, which makes the bail bonds agent very careful about providing bail, especially for defendants the judge may determine ti be a flight risk for one reason or another.
If a bail-jumping defendant is not captured within six months, the bail agent is responsible for paying the full amount of the bail to the court, plus additional court costs. The bail agent will then seek to recover that cost from the person who purchased the surety bond for their loved one.
As Inessa Chavez, vice president of All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita explains,“When signing a bail bond contract for a loved one, the indemnitor is agreeing to accept responsibility for the defendant – and that includes the full dollar amount of the bond if the defendant skips bail.”
“With Us You Are Never Alone”
23360 W. Valencia Blvd. #E
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
661-255-2245
Call Toll Free: 888-755-2245
24 hours a day — 7 days a week
If your loved one is in custody and they wish to talk to an All American Bail Bonds representative, call:
818-990-0003 or 661-267-6777
