When a loved one is arrested and placed in jail its a scary and stressful time for families and friends. Access to accurate and timely information is essential.

The first thing to do is find out the bail amount. This can be done by searching online or simply calling a San Diego bail bonds company.

Search Online

A loved one’s arrest can be a dizzying experience. You might be struggling to understand what happened, where they are, and how you can help them.

The first step is to use an online inmate search tool. You can enter your loved one’s booking number or their name to locate them. This will give you up to date information about where they are, what charges they are facing and their bail status.

Bail is money paid to the court as a guarantee that a defendant will show up for their trial. If they do, the bail is refunded. However, if they fail to appear or they break any other conditions of their release from jail, the person that posted the bond will be held liable.

There are several offline resources to find out a defendant’s bail amount. A bondsman in the county where they are incarcerated can access this information and tell you what their bond is.

Call the Jail

Often, the easiest way to find out a person’s bail status is to call the jail where they are being held. This can be done by using an inmate search database or directly calling the jail business office. The person who answers the phone can provide you with up-to-date information on where your loved one is and their current charges.

During the call, you can also ask how long it will take for your loved one to be released from jail. Typically, it takes up to a half an hour for someone to be released from jail once they have been through the entire booking process which includes photographs and fingerprinting.

Once you have the bond amount and collateral, a bondsman can post it for you and get your loved one released from jail. The bondsman will charge a fee for their services which is usually a percentage of the total bond. Once the person is out of jail and appears for all of their court appearances, the bondsman will take their money or collateral back.

Contact a Lawyer or Public Defender

If the defendant in question has been arrested, a public defender will be assigned to represent them. Public defenders are licensed attorneys that represent indigent criminal defendants. They are paid by the county, state or federal government to perform these duties.

A public defender will also help a client arrange bail. While it is not the norm for them to co-sign for a bond, they will often provide names and contact information of trustworthy people who are willing to do so.

If a judge determines that the alleged crime is not serious and that the defendant will appear for all court hearings, they may release them on their own recognizance (ROR). In this scenario, no one has to post money or property with the court to get the person released. However, if the defendant does not appear for any required court dates or violates any of their bail conditions, they can be held liable for the full amount of their unsecured bond.

Contact a Bondsman

Inmate bail bonds are a great way for a friend or loved one to get out of jail quickly. While using online tools to discover the bond amount is one option, Golden Boy Bail Bonds will be able to provide you with this information much faster and easier.

When you contact Golden Boy Bail Bonds, make sure to have the full name of the accused and the charges they are facing. It is also important to know if the accused has any active warrants or if they have any criminal history.

A bondsman will charge a fee, known as the premium, to post a bond for release this will usually be around ten percent of the total bail amount. It is a good idea to choose a bondsman that offers multilingual services as this will help to ensure accurate communication with the accused and their family members you should also check the bondsman’s score on Better Bail Bureau before hiring them for your bond.