Palm Desert

Jail Information

Palm Springs Jail

Address: 200 S Civic Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262, United States

Court Information

Palm Springs Courthouse

Address: 3255 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262, United States

Facing criminal charges can be a stressful experience, especially if it is your first time facing an arrest. The police will arrest you and take you through the booking process at the detention facility. The booking process involves taking your fingerprints and a mug shot. The law enforcement officers will take your belongings and put you behind bars. The good news is that you do not have to remain in custody until the trial date. With the help of an experienced Palm Desert bail bondsman, you can secure release from jail.

Prompt Release From Custody

It is understandable to want to secure your release from custody as fast as possible. When you post bail, you reduce the time you spend behind bars. However, you must be careful when choosing a Palm Desert bail bondsman. You shouldn't go to any bail bondsman you come across or choose an agent just because their services are cheap. You need to seek the services of a reputable bail bond agent who will get the process right the first time.

At Palm Springs Bail Bonds, we have experienced agents available and ready to bail you out of custody. Our agents are strategically located throughout Palm Desert. They will come to your rescue whenever you need them.

Understanding Bail

Bail is an agreement between you, a bondsman, and the court. A defendant posts a specific amount of money with the court in exchange for freedom. You commit that you will return to court on your court-set date. You will receive your cash back upon attending the court hearings as scheduled. If you fail to honor the court hearings, bail forfeiture occurs. You lose the amount placed as bail.

For example, the court could set a bail of $15,000. This means that you must post $15,000 with the court to secure your release from custody. You will have your money back once you return to court on the specified dates. The court will refund your money even if it gives you a guilty verdict at your trial. However, you will immediately forfeit your $15,000, and the court will issue a warrant for your arrest if you fail to attend the court hearings.

However, if an unforeseen emergency makes you miss the court date, you should contact your bondsman immediately. Your bail bond agent can negotiate with the court to reschedule your hearing for your availability.

You cannot secure your release if you do not have the money to post the bail the court sets. You will therefore have to remain behind bars until your trial date. Most people do not have enough cash to post cash bail. When you work with a Palm Desert bail bondsman, you do not have to raise the entire amount. You will only pay a small fraction of the bail figure, the bail bond premium.

When the police arrest you, posting bail should be your priority. This is why most arrestees opt for bail bonds since it is the easiest way to secure release from jail without straining your finances.

Types Of Bail Bonds

The following are the types of bail bonds you could access:

Surety Bail Bonds

A surety bail bond guarantees that you will attend all the court-set dates. You will only require collateral and a premium to secure a surety bond. The bondsman is essential in posting the amount needed on your behalf to secure your release from custody. The surety company is a business that loans money to the bondsman for them to post your bail. The non-refundable premium you pay the bondsman for their services is the only cost associated with the surety bond. The typical premium is 10% of the bail figure.

Citation Release Bail

Citation-release bail bonds are the best among other types of bail bonds. You cannot go to jail if you qualify for citation release. Citation release bails are often associated with traffic crimes. Law enforcement will issue you a citation rather than arrest you and put you into custody. Similarly, you cannot request or apply for a citation bail bond. The arresting officer is the only person who can make this decision. However, if you go to jail, you will require a different kind of bail to secure your release.

Recognizance Release Bail Bonds

Recognizance release bail is convenient since you do not have to post any amount for a recognizance release. You only need to assure the court that you will honor all the court-scheduled hearings. You must also sign the relevant paperwork stating that you will be committed to the arrangement.

The arresting officer is usually in charge of recognizance releases, just like citation releases. The only difference is that you will need to seek the services of an attorney to help you negotiate this type of bail in court. Even if you do not have to pay for your release, the attorney's expenses could exceed your bail expenses. If you realize that negotiating for your recognizance release will cost more, you should consider a surety bond.

Property Bail Bond

You can offer your property as bail instead of posting cash bail or using a surety bond. Real estate is commonly acceptable for property bail bonds. Other properties that could be accepted include a motor vehicle logbook or other items of value.

Cash Bail

Cash bail bonds are easy to understand since they involve posting money with the court. The court can order you to post cash bail if you have a higher-than-average flight risk, especially if you commit a violent offense.

How Bail Bonds Work

Bail bonds are closely related to personal loans. The bondsman will give you the money required for your bail once you pay a small percentage, usually 10% of the total amount. A bondsman, just like a loan officer, lends you the required money for a fee (premium). For example, if the court sets your bail at $15,000, you will pay $1,500 to the bondsman. The bondsman will then post to the court the $15,000 required.

Most bail bond companies will also ask you to provide particular collateral before they give you the amount required for your bail. Collateral is an asset like your car, jewelry, or a title deed. The collateral can be sold to recover the bail amount if you fail to honor your appointed court date, leading to bail bond forfeiture.

Once your case has been determined, the court will refund your money, which will be returned to the bail bond company that loaned you the money. The bondsman and the bail bond company will always take extra precautions to ensure you show up for court dates because of the financial risk they assume. If you fail to attend the court hearing, the bondsman can involve a bounty hunter to track you down.

Bail bondsmen can do the following to prevent bail bond forfeiture:

Request that you make regular visits to the bail bond office to show that you have not left the town.
Your Palm Desert bail bondsman will contact you before each court hearing to remind you about your forthcoming trial.
Preferably, a friend or family member will provide the collateral for your bail. This guarantees that you will honor the court date because your friend's or relative's house or property is on the line for your bail.

Most defendants usually agree with these requirements since they are just the small price they must pay to secure their release from jail while waiting for trial.

When To Contact a Palm Desert Bail Bondsman

You will be booked into jail immediately after you are arrested. Once in custody, all your essential details, like your name and personal details, as well as your fingerprints and photo, are entered into the police department's computer and database. The police will also impound your personal belongings. If the police arrest you for DUI, you will undergo a sobriety test once you are booked.

You will have the opportunity to make one call after the booking. You should contact your Palm Desert bail bondsman at this time. Your hearing will be set after this, where the court will determine the amount you post as bail. This happens within 48 hours of your arrest.

Most judges use a bail schedule to determine the bail amount. However, the judge handling your case can use their discretion when setting the bail amount. The judge will also consider certain external factors when setting bail.

The judge could reduce your bail below the amount outlined in the bail schedule if you have family in the area, you are employed, or it is your first crime. The judge could even decide to release you on your own recognizance if you have strong ties to the community. Strong ties to the community indicate that you are not a flight risk.

On the other hand, you could have several crimes on your record, and the court thinks you are a flight risk. In this case, the judge could increase the bail amount or reject your bail application.

Some jails could determine your bail as soon as you are booked without waiting for an initial court hearing. This generally occurs for low-level crimes. The law enforcement officers will guide you on whether you must post bail immediately.

Mistakes To Avoid When Or After You Post Bail

When posting bail or after you post bail, you should avoid the following mistakes:

Traveling While On Bail

There are specific rules and restrictions you must adhere to when you leave jail on bail. Ensure that you do not travel when the rules state that you should remain in your area of residence. You should inform your bondsman if it is a must for you to travel.

Failing To Honor Court Dates

The worst mistake you could make when you are out of custody on bail is failing to honor the set court dates. Unless it is unavoidable, you should observe all the court dates.

Being Rearrested While Out On Bail

The court will release you on bail, anticipating that you will not cause any trouble. Your bail will be revoked if you commit a subsequent offense while out on bail.

Using The Wrong Address When Posting Bail

You have to fill out several forms when applying for bail. You need to be careful and fill in the correct address. Otherwise, any mistake could lead to the revocation of your bail.

Choosing Unlicensed Palm Desert Bail Bondsman

There are many inexperienced, unlicensed, and unscrupulous bondsmen. These bondsmen will use all means possible to woo you, even by charging meager rates. You should only work with a licensed, reputable, and reliable bondsman.

Lying To Your Palm Desert Bondsman Or The Judge

The bondsman and the judge will ask you several questions when setting your bail. You need to be truthful and give the correct answers to their questions. Your bail could be revoked, and you could end up in jail if you lie to any of their questions.

Find a Reliable Palm Desert Bail Bondsman

If you have been arrested for any crime and need to secure a prompt release from jail, you should work with an experienced bondsman. For a reliable Palm Desert bail bondsman, contact Palm Springs Bail Bonds. We provide fast bail bond services at an affordable price. Call us at 760-775-7377 to speak to one of our bondsmen.