Bail Bonds in San Mateo County, CA – Ultimate Guide! Find Bondsmen, How Bail Works, Bail Costs

It's important to know how the bail bond process works in California so you can avoid delays in getting your loved one out of jail, and ensure you are not surprised by any costs or contractual agreements. As soon as the jail allows for release, many bail bond companies will come pick you up discreetly. Installment payment plans are often available depending on each case. Using the service of a bail bondsman typically requires collateral and someone to co-sign on the bail bond.

Upon arrest anywhere in the state of California, a person must be processed at the local county jail. In order to be released from jail, several steps must occur, including being booked and posting bail. Once the bail amount is decided, a bail bondman from California can post the bail bond at the local jail. At this time the jail release process begins and typically can take anywhere from 1-2 hours to complete. While cash bonds are acceptable in California, they are not common due to the high up-front cost. With a cash bond, you have to pay in cash or via a money order for the entire bail amount. This amount is returned to you if you appear for all court cases and meet the conditions of your release. For most people, it is difficult to come up with the entire bail amount, and even if the money is available, you have to be prepared to not see that money for 6-12 months depending on the length of your trial and post-trial processing times.

One way to avoid using a bail bondsman in California, is to hopefully be released on Own Recognizance (OR). Release On Recognizance (ROR) means you will be released from jail for no fee. The court system views you as a low risk individual that committed a small offense and therefore trusts you to obey California law upon release while also being confident that you will be present for all court dates.

If you committed a felony, or you are perceived as a flight risk or a risk to others, the court will set a large bail amount and you will likely need to use a bail bondsman. In some cases, a property bond can be used, but the value of your land and home must be twice the value of the bail amount. Hiring a lawyer can help reduce the bail amount California sets for your release. A skilled attorney can propose options to the judge in order to lower your bail amount and possible release you on Own Recognizane. Some of the proposals may include limiting out of state travel, drug testing, a GPS tracking device, or a post-release rehab program.

We highly recommend reading of our complete guide on how bail bonds work to learn more about the bail process. If you are attempting to bail someone out from another state, you can talk with your local bondsman - that's the bondman in your county, and not the state where the person is detained.

The state has a 10% maximum bail bond fee that can be charged to any bail bonds written by a bondsman. This fee is non-refundable. The California Department of Insurance sets this maximum fee and the only way around it is to pay for your own bail or use the money of a friend or relative.

Most states in the US follow a 10% bail bond fee so California is within the normal range for bail cost. Please note that this is the maximum that can be charged. It's possible that you can find a bondsman that will charge you 8% or less for the bail bond. These cases are rare since 10% is typically a happy middle range that keeps the bondsman in business. Please work closely with the bail bonds company to determine if there are any additional court or administrative fees. These are in addition to the 10% bail bond premium and typically involve around $25-50 in extra fees that must be paid upfront.

We recommend reading our guide on how much bail costs for a deep dive into fees bondsmen charge. It's also critical to understand that you do not get bail money back, specifically the 10% bail fee back from the bondsman.

Annual number of crimes that were reported to the police in San Mateo County, CA. Data is based on FBI crime statistics database.

We provide estimates on average bail prices for different misdemeanor and felony crimes in San Mateo County, CA. These are estimates since the exact amounts can vary substantially depending on your age, details involving the charge, criminal history, and prior record of not appearing to court.

• Assault – Ranges from $2,500 to $10,000 depending on type of assault
• Drugs – Possession of controlled substance can range from $500 to 2,500 bail
• Robbery - $25,000 to $100,000 bail amount
• Murder – No bail amount set or $1 million in some cases
• Manslaughter – Voluntary manslaughter $100,000 and involuntary starting at $25,000
• DWI / DUI - $500 to $2,500 depending on history and details surrounding the offense
• Public Intoxication – Typically $200 to $500
• Burglary - $20,000 minimum but up to $50,000 in some areas

Check our detailed guide to learn more about how bail is determined, find additional bail prices for crimes, and find out how bail can be lowered.

Key demographic data based on Census for San Mateo County, CA. Much of this information can be useful for bail bondsmen who are prospecting the county as a possibility to start a bail bonds business. Education, income, and employment statistics are vital in assessing the overall risk of a population when it comes to lending money for bail. Median home values are useful to determine collateral for property bail bonds.

Unemployment data is based on Bureau of Labor statistics. Employment status is the single most important piece of information that bail bondsmen consider when deciding to bail someone out of jail. Having a job and an active income stream is the single most impactful reassurance bondsmen can have.

Property bonds are a good way of making bail if an individual has equity in their property but very little or no cash. By looking at the median home values in San Mateo County, CA, we can roughly estimate the asset potential the county’s residents have.

We pride ourselves on our reader focused approach, which includes providing information on resources that may be useful.

It’s generally a good idea to get in touch with a lawyer to seek assistance for the trial, fair sentencing, and even to challenge the bail amount that is being set for the person you are looking to release from jail. Particularly when cash bail is set, it’s important that bail is set fairly, which is an area where a lawyer can assist.

If you need free or low-income legal help, you may qualify for assistance from the American Bar Association.

One of the shortcomings of the bail system is the time someone can be stuck in jail – it’s often enough time for a person to lose their job. To make matters worse, having a tarnished record further complicates matters. This is why we are listing reputable job centers near San Mateo County, CA to help get people back on their feet.