FAQs About Bail Bonds
Has a family member or friend recently been arrested and sent to county jail? Browse through this page to learn more about the most frequently asked bail bonds questions. Escondido Bail Bonds is available 24 hour a day, 7 days a week to assist you with your bail needs.
Frequently Asked Questions:
When Will My Friend/Family Member Show Up In Custody Online?
Once an inmate has been arrested and sent to county jail, the booking department will usually take anywhere from 2-3 hours until they process in the inmate. This shouldn’t mean that you wait until the defendant’s information shows up online to get started, a representative at Escondido Bail Bonds can help you get the information that you need today.
Do I Physically Have To Be In Your Office To Get The Process Started?
No. Once you call in, a representative will begin your application for bond approval. If you are unable to come down to our office, we can either send an agent to you, or submit all paperwork via docu-sign. Not all clients are eligible for docu-sign signatures so make sure to ask!
Do You Offer Payment Plans?
Absolutely! Escondido Bail Bonds offers fair and affordable payment plan options for those who qualify. Give us a call to get your application started now!
My Loved One Was Just Arrested. How Long Will It Take Until I’m Able To Bail Them Out Of Jail?
After an individual has been arrested by local law enforcement, they are typically transferred to the local county jail for fingerprinting and processing. Before an inmate can be bonded out of jail, the jailers will first “book” the inmate into county custody. This process can take anywhere from 3-6 hours and is conducted by county jail representatives only. Your bondsman cannot control how fast an inmate is processed into jail. It is also during this time that the jail will run a thorough background check on the defendant to ensure that he/she does not have any outstanding warrants throughout California.
What Information Will I Need To Provide My Bondsman To Get The Bail Process Started?
There is certain information that our team will need in order to further assist you and that information would be:
- Was the person just recently arrested? We ask this because if the person was arrested just minutes ago, the county jail will not have any booking information available just yet.
- What is the person’s full name and date of birth/age? San Diego County requires the first two letters of both the first and last name in order for us to locate the inmate online.
- What is the defendants booking number? There are occurrences where the county jail officials might misspell the defendant’s name and if this is the case, using the defendants booking number will suffice.
- Are you financially able to afford a bond? Escondido Bail Bonds provides flexible payment plan assistance for those who qualify. We’ll have to complete an application for all co-signers who plan on assisting with the bond. In order to qualify, you must have stable employment, proof of residence, proof of income, a valid government identification card and be at least 18 years of age.
- You must know the inmate. As we move forward on the approval process, our agents will ask you questions regarding the inmate such as their place of residency, where they work, information about their criminal history (if they have one), and other personal questions. If you are unsure, this may hinder the chances of qualifying for a bond.
How Do I Get Started?
Getting started is simple. First we will ask you questions about the inmate before sending a representative to the jail to conduct an interview. Most of the information that we need can be asked over the phone and if you are unable to come into our office, we do offer docusign electronic signatures. After your application has been completed we will submit your bond for approval and work out the premium (price owed) before bonding your loved one out of custody.
What Happens If The Defendant Doesn’t Show Up To Court?
If our client does not show up to court, then it is your responsibility as the cosigner to make sure that he/she is put back on the court calendar. If the defendant is not responsive and goes MIA, we reserve the right to apprehend them and place them back into custody. If we are unable to locate the inmate, ultimately you can be held financially responsible for the entire amount. Ex: If we posted bond for $50,000 and the defendant does not show up to court, we can hold you responsible for the entire $50,000.
I Think That The Defendant Is Not Going To Show Up To Court. What Should I Do?
If at any point you believe that the defendant will not show up to court, it is urgent that you contact our office immediately. As the cosigner, you hold the right to request that your bonding company revoke the bail bond that was processed. If you don’t say anything to your bail company, you run the risk of the defendant not showing up and being responsible for the entire bail amount that was posted with the county jail.
Am I Able To Leave The State While Out On Bail?
In order for the defendant to leave the state or country, you must ask for permission by your bonding agent. Make sure to list the exact location you will be staying at or visiting, additional contacts we can speak to if we need to get a hold of you and the dates that you will be gone/arrive back. If you fail to do so, you run the risk of being rearrested for breaching your contract
How Do I Get My Money Back After The Defendant’s Case Is Done?
Unfortunately, the premium that was paid is non-refundable. Our company will put up the entire bond amount and only request a percentage to be paid in order to get your loved one out of custody. The only way you can get your money back is if you went directly to the jail and posted a cash bond. This will require the entire amount to be paid in full to the county jail that is housing the defendant.
Do You Accept Collateral?
Bail companies have their own standards in terms of accepting collateral in exchange for bail. Here are a few examples of collateral that bail bond companies will accept:
- Real estate
- Cars
- Stocks
- Bonds
