Most of us hear about bail bonds on a daily basis when we turn on the news, but never really stop to think about how bail bonds work or when they might be needed. We hear things like, “So-and-so was released on several thousand dollars bail and will return to court in a few weeks.” What does that really mean? And why do defendants have to return to court if they were released on bail? If you’re looking for more information on how a bail bond works, you’ve come to the right place. We are a family owned and operated bail bonds agency with experience dating back to 1956; we are Ernie Lopez Bail Bonds, serving Los Angeles County. We’ve put together this article to help you learn a bit more about the process and what you can expect when securing a bail bond for yourself or a loved one.

If your loved one has been arrested in Los Angeles County and you’re looking for bail bonds services, please do not hesitate to contact us immediately. Time is of the essence in this process. We need to get started locating your loved one and initiating the bail bonds process immediately to ensure a quick release. Once you or your loved one gets transferred to one of Los Angeles’ large county jails, the time it takes to get released only increases.

If this is not an emergency, please keep reading.

Understanding Bail Bonds

When an individual is arrested for a crime, typically that person will be taken to a local law enforcement station for booking, prior to incarceration in a station lock-up or county jail. Once arrested and booked, the defendant has several options for release pending the conclusion of his or her case. Bail bonds are designed to guarantee the defendant appears in court at the time directed by the judge.

There are three basic options for release:

• A surety bond
• A cash bail
• A release on own recognizance (O.R.)

We’ll discuss each of these in more detail in our article: What is a Bail Bond?

When a bail bondsmen puts up a fee for the release of a suspect on bail, the bondsmen charges a fee of usually 10 percent of the money that is required to pay the bail. This is a percentage that is regulated by law and should not change from agency to agency. This initial fee is not refundable, even if the client’s case is thrown out after they post bail.

Generally speaking, the bondsmen will take out a security against a defendant’s assets in order to cover the cost of the bail. If the defendant does not have enough assets to cover the bail bonds, then they may take out securities against other individuals (such as yourself) that are willing to assist. This is most often a relative or friend of the defendant. The defendant is then released on bail with the assumption they will appear in court on their scheduled date.

In the event that the defendant does not arrive in court when scheduled, the bondsmen can hire a bounty hunter to track down the defendant, and they have a right to sue the defendant for the money that was given for bond. It is important to note that the bail bond agency can also recover any unpaid money by claiming the assets that are owned by the individuals that signed the contract to financially assist the defendant.

Helping someone with a bond is not something to take lightly. It is important that you understand all the facts associated with this risk and that you trust the defendant to honor their commitment to appear in court. If you have questions about this process and the steps needed to help your loved one, we are always just a phone call away and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your questions. If the defendant does not appear in court, it is expected that you will assist in finding them or will provide information leading to their capture.

Learn More About How Bail Bonds Work in Los Angeles County

To learn more about how bail bonds work in the Los Angeles County court system, please feel free to browse the other resources provided to you in this website; particularly our FAQ page. Should you have any questions or need to speak with one of our bail bondsmen directly, we are available by phone around the clock. We look forward to helping you during this difficult and trying time. Contact us today to get started immediately.