Harbor Bail Bonds
There are many bail bond agents to choose from and you want to be sure that you choose one that is dependable and can get you or your loved one out of jail quickly. Make sure that the agent or their company can service your local area. You may want them to meet you at the jail and they should be able to accommodate you. They should be fully licensed and bonded, and should have dealt with the local court whose jurisdiction the accused is under. Their fee should be what the state requires for their service, not more or less. Unless a bail bond agent is also an attorney, they must charge the state-mandated fee.
To become a licensed bail bond agent some states require special training. There are a set number of hours involved in completing the training, and the agent must pass a bail bond agent test. Sometimes states also require minimums for education and training. If the state does not require training, make sure the agent is familiar with the state statues and laws regarding bail bonds. Ongoing education and training is also necessary for a good bail bond agent, as laws and stipulations change from time to time.
If you or a loved one gets arrested in the Torrance area, chances are the judge will set bail for their release. Once out of jail, they must agree to attend any and all court hearings until their case is either dismissed or resolved. The accused person must come up with the full amount of bail in order to be released from jail. If they or their party can pay cash to the court, the court will hold the money until the case is closed, and if the defendant appears at all court proceedings, the money is returned in full. This is calls a cash bail bond. If the defendant fails to attend their court hearings, the full amount of bail is forfeited and the court keeps it.
In many cases, however, the defendant and their party cannot pay the entire amount. This is especially true in larger cities where average bail can be $25,000. In these cases the defendant or their party can hire a bail bonds agent. The agent is licensed and bonded and is backed by a bank, insurance company or an organization that can guarantee the full amount of the bail. Instead of posting cash bail, the bail bonds agent posts a surety bond in behalf of the defendant. This is an assurance that the money will be paid if the defendant does not attend court proceedings. The bail bonds agent takes a risk that the defendant may skip bail and not attend their court hearings. In California the state mandates bail bond agents to charge a 10% non-refundable fee for their services. Sometimes they will also require collateral as well. Collateral is property such as the deed to a home, a car or boat, or anything of value that can be used to back up the bond.
Types of Bail Bonds
There are several kinds of bail bonds in addition to the commonly used surety bond. They are variations of the same idea, and have specific uses.
Cash bonds – This is when the accused or their party posts the full amount of bail to the court in cash. No bond is needed and the cash will be returned to the party in full at the close of the case as long as the accused attends all court appearances as required.
Immigration Bonds - These bonds are specifically used for cases involving a foreign national. This includes anyone who is not a U.S. citizen. Illegal visitors, people with temporary visas and even permanent residents are included. An immigration bond is used solely for immigration cases, and not for criminal cases. If the accused is not a citizen they are considered a greater flight risk, and therefore the bonds are higher and more difficult to obtain. The bail bond agent fee is higher as well, usually about 15% to 20% of the bail amount. In addition, collateral is normally required as well.
Property bail bonds – Only some jurisdictions will allow use of these bail bonds. They allow the accused or their party to post real property instead of cash or a surety bond. The procedure is more complicated and it is not always allowed. Further, the value of the property posted as bond must usually be worth two times more than the original amount of bail.
Federal bail bonds – Also called Corporate Surety Bonds, these bail bonds are used in cases of federal crime. They are more costly than normal criminal county or state bonds – similar to immigration bonds. The accused is also generally a higher flight risk. Bail bond agent fees run about 15% of bail, and collateral is also required.
Own Recognizance – This is not a bail bond involving the promise of any valuable goods, rather it is simply a written and verbal agreement that the accused agrees to appear in court as required. No money or collateral is required. Being released on your own recognizance is allowed when the accused is a person of good standing in the community, does not have any prior criminal record, and the assumed crime is not serious.
Booking
After someone is arrested, they are taken to the local police station or jail and booked. Booking involves a number of procedures and can take up to a day or two. During booking all of the defendant’s belongings are taken and held by the police, and if any of it can be used as evidence this is noted. This includes cell phone, money, and all personal items. The accused then undergoes several procedures that are meant to help find out what happened during the alleged crime, the person’s history as related to the crime, the nature of the crime and the likeliness of committing it.
Crimes that bail is set for are misdemeanors or felonies. Some common types of these crimes are:
- Car theft
- Threatening criminal activates
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- Robbery or Burglary
- Domestic violence
- Assault and battery
- Breaking and entering a home or business
- Illegal drug possession or sales
If you are booked, several steps are involved:
- Your personal information is taken.
- You will be searched for any weapons or other items that have not been confiscated.
- You will be asked in detail about the incident. Stories will be compared with that of others involved.
- Your fingerprints will be taken.
- You will be photographed (mug shot).
- They will also search their database to see if you have any prior criminal record or history.
After booking, you are taken to a holding facility to await determination of bail, if any. Sometimes you are given a bail amount right away, and you have one phone call to reach someone who can help you. During this call it is important to make sure they have all the information they need to help raise your bail if necessary. Be sure you give them all the information they need such as your full name and birthdate, amount of bail, address and phone, and where you are being held. If you want to contest the bail, you may do so but you will have to remain in custody until your bail hearing. At the first “pre-hearing” the judge will listen to both sides of the case and determine whether or not to dismiss or continue your case.
The judge will ultimately be the one to set your bail, and does so based on guideline from the County Bail Schedule and other factors. The schedule lists many types of crimes and the average value for those cries. The judge then can vary from this guideline depending on the person and their history and the facts of the case. For instance, if the accused had been convicted of crimes in the past or has an arrest history, the judge may be more likely to set a higher bail or fail to set bail. If the person has a clean record and has is a low flight risk, the judge is more likely to set bail lower.
An example of this can be seen when looking at driving incidents. If the accused is arrested for Driving Under the Influence of alcohol in Los Angeles County, a basic DUI bail is $15,000. If an accident occurred with a DUI, the bail becomes $50,000.
The average bail in California is $25,000.
Fugitive Recovery
When a defendant fails to appear in court, the court or bail bond agent will hire a bounty hunter– also called a fugitive recovery agent. These are specially trained contractors who find people that fail to appear at their court proceedings and have often put tens of thousands of dollars at risk, as well as violating the terms of their legal agreement. The fugitive recovery agent is given authorized documents from their state and they are hired to find, arrest and detain these defendants that have fled. Because the fugitive is sometimes resistance to arrest, bounty hunters are trained in tactical use of firearms, tasers, handcuffs, mace and other weapons.
Payment Options
Bail Bonds Services In These Cities:
Torrance, CA
Located in the southern part of Los Angeles County, the coastal city of Torrance is moderate to warm area with 1.5 miles of coastline. The population is about 150,000 and is home to the U.S. headquarters of two of the largest Japanese auto manufacturers – Toyota Motor Sales and American Honda Motor Company.
Harbor Bail Bonds - Los Angeles Bail Bond Company
619 South Centre Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 835-2245
(877)224-8161
License # 1841411
E-Mail:
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