The cost of a bail bond in the State of California is determined by the Department of Insurance. This regulates the amount a bail bond agent can accept in order to provide a client with a bail bond. This amount is set at 10% of the total bail amount. So, if a defendant’s bail is set at $20,000, the cost for a bail bond will be $2,000. This fee is known as the bail bond premium and is not negotiable. If an agency offers to negotiate the premium or charges any additional fees to drive the price up, they are doing so illegally and should be avoided when seeking an agency to work with.

Most agencies will accept payments that are made with any major credit card or cash. In some instances, collateral may be required to secure a bail bond. A lot of bondsmen will require that the premium be paid in full before they will assist a client with a bail bond. This ensures that they will be compensated for the service they provide. There are agencies, however, that offer financing options for qualifying clients in order to make a bail bond easier to afford.

BAIL BOND PAYMENT PLANS

In California, the bail amounts are among the highest in the nation. Because of this, posting bail is virtually impossible for many people. When bail amounts climb into the tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars, it can be very difficult to pay even the 10% bondsman fee. Many agencies will offer financing to clients in need, who can prove an ability to commit to a payment plan.

Bail bond payment plans could be spread out over a few weeks or several months. Agencies may look into your credit history to determine a person’s ability to repay. Most offer financing with no additional fees or interest.

PAYMENT PLAN QUALIFICATIONS

A bail bond agency will look at several factors before agreeing to a payment plan with a client, such as property ownership and past credit history. If a client owns property, this shows that they are financially stable, and that they have something that can be used as collateral if needed, and are capable of making regular payments. The same applies to someone with a good credit history. Having a positive payment history will likely qualify someone for a payment plan.

A bondsman may also take into consideration the client’s employment history, how long they have lived in the state, their arrest history and type of crimes committed.

INDMENITOR RESPOSIBILITIES

When someone enters into an agreement with a bail bondsman, they become what is known as the indemnitor on the contract. That means they agree to be financially responsible. If the defendant fails to appear for scheduled court dates, the indemnitor may be held liable for repaying the entire bail amount, as well as any added court costs and fees.

If someone is approached by a friend or family member about getting a bail bond, they should think carefully first. If there is any reason to believe that the defendant will flee once they are released from jail, it would be best to decline signing a bail bond agreement on their behalf.

Published: 01/27/2012

Many bail bonds agencies will allow, or even require, you to use the equity in your home as collateral for a bail bond. This means that they will put a lien on that property until the entire case has been resolved in court.  In a perfect world, the case would be resolved quickly, with the defendant appearing at all court hearings without incident. But we all know that this isn’t always the case.

If the unthinkable happens, and the person who came to you in their time of need refuses to go back to court once they’ve been bailed out, where does that leave you?  To begin with, most defendants go to court without incident. The bondsman relies in the fact that you know the defendant well enough to be comfortable that willfully evading court simply will not happen. That being the case, the bondsman will remove the lien from your home at the conclusion of the case.

If the defendant “fails to appear” in court and cannot be found, as a cosigner of a bail bond, you are agreeing to be financially liable. That means that if the bail bond is for $15,000 and the person you are bailing out “skips” bail, then you will be responsible for paying the entire $15,000 plus any added costs and fees that the bondsman incurs when they attempt to find the defendant.

Most people don’t have that kind of money readily available, so the bondsman has the right to foreclose on the property you put up as collateral in order to recoup expenses if a payment arrangement cannot be made.

Deciding whether or not to cosign a bail bond for anyone is not a decision to be made lightly. You should always look into the financial implications that you could face if the worst should happen. If you have any reason to believe that the person you are considering bailing out of jail will not face his or her responsibilities, then reconsider putting up your property as collateral for them.

There are some bail agencies that offer no-collateral bail bonds. They will not require you to put up your house, car or first born in order to draw up a bail bond contract. These agencies will ask for no more than the bail bond premium up front before posting bail.

Instead of having to worry about the possible loss of your car or home, seek out a bail bonds company that is willing to offer a no-collateral bail bond. While you would still be financially responsible if the defendant fails to appear in court, at least you won’t have to fear losing your home.

If you are looking for information about no-collateral bail bonds in California, call 877-BAIL-BOND to speak with a licensed bail bondsman.

This unexpected steady decline has given proof that there are many factors that play a role in the amount of criminal activity on the streets besides the ups and downs of America’s roller coaster economy.

One of these driving factors is how well police officers do their job. Another is the strength of local communities. Residents of Los Angeles County have taken more of a stand in their neighborhoods, letting it be known that they will not tolerate crime anymore.

In 2010, the county saw a decrease of some thousands in the number of serious crimes committed, according to Los Angeles Police Department preliminary statistics. For two consecutive years, Los Angeles had less than 300 homicides. This number is far short of the horrifying amount of homicides in the 1990s, which saw homicide rates in the thousands.

The rest of Los Angeles County saw a 12 percent drop in homicides with only 283, according to the coroner’s data.

Other violent crimes as well as property crime have also been on a downward trend over the last few years, decreasing between three and nine percent in comparison to last year.

At the onset of the recent recession, residents in the southern California region were warned to expect a sharp rise in criminal activity, but the surge never came. Instead, the decline, which started nearly a decade ago, has continued on regardless of the housing crisis, increased unemployment numbers and public service cuts.

Credit for this downturn in Los Angeles crime rates is due in part to the effective crime-fighting techniques of law enforcement, demographic shifts, stricter sentencing laws and sociological influences.

Even with such positive numbers, though, there are some areas in Los Angeles County that have seen an increase in crime rather than a decrease. The downtown area, for example, saw a jump in the number of homicides, burglaries and robberies.

There was also an increase of six percent in the number of gang-related homicides in Los Angeles.

The number of times that LAPD officers had to fire their weapons last year also increased 65 percent over the previous year. In 2011, 25 people were killed by LAPD officers and there were 61 shootings in which officers were involved as well.

Source: Despite Weak Economy… by Joel Rubin, LA Times

Published: 1/13/2012

BAIL

When a person is arrested and charged with a crime they will usually be given the opportunity to be bail out of jail.  In the state of California, the criminal charges will be cross-referenced with the county’s bail schedule.  A bail schedule is set annually by county judges and lists monetary amounts that correspond with particular charges. Bail in California is set at the highest amounts in the nation.

Ultimately, bail is the amount of money a defendant will need to post with the court in order to be released from jail.  If a person is unable or unwilling to post the full amount with the court, a second option is to seek out the assistance of a bail bondsman.  That is where bail bonds come in.

BAIL BONDS

A bail bond is the contract between the contract signer (called the indemnitor) and the bail bonds company (called the surety) that stipulates the defendant will appear for future court proceedings related to the criminal charges.  Working with a bail bonds company has its advantages in that they can generally help expedite the release process.  Another advantage of working with a bail bonds company is that only 10% of the total bail amount will need to be paid in order to have the defendant released from jail.   That money is paid to the company as a fee for their services and is not refundable.

HOW TO BAIL SOMEONE OUT OF JAIL

If you receive a call from a friend or family member informing you of their arrest, the easiest way to arrange for bail is to seek out the assistance of a local, expert bondsman.  The bail bondsman will ask you for some basic information such as the charges, when the defendant was arrested, what jail and the bail amount.  If you don’t know all of the details, a professional bondsman should be able to assist you anyway.

There is the option not to bail out of jail. However, helping someone post bail is a lot less complicated than you might think.  Your bail bondsman should be able to answer any questions you have about how the process works, how long it will take, and the responsibilities that come with helping someone get out of jail.

Greg Rynerson Bail Bonds provides bail to all California jails 24 hours a day, everyday. Please call to speak with a professional bondsman now: 1-888-224-5266.

Published: 12/12/2011

CONTACT:   Greg & Tonya Rynerson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles, CA (December 2011) – During this Christmas giving season, Greg and Tonya Rynerson of Greg Rynerson Bail Bonds is pleased to make a gift in honor of their business associates to support the education, uniforms and meals for four Ugandan children for a year.

“We are fortunate to have had another successful year in California bail. It is important to us to give back to the community at large,” says Greg Rynerson, bail bondsman and company owner.

Greg’s wife and co-owner, Tonya adds, “Greg and I have been personally supporting the work of Uganda Development Initiative for years. Last year, we decided to support the education of children in need rather than standard corporate giving.”

Uganda Development Initiative (UDI) has been involved in the building and support of primary schools, a kindergarten, a high school and an accredited college in the remote west area of Uganda. UDI also supports sustainable agriculture, medical and small business programs. Their goal is to break the cycle of poverty.

Marsha Hunt, CFO of Uganda Development Initiative, said, “One of our goals for 2012, here at UDI, is to attract more corporate sponsors.  This is the second year Greg Rynerson Bail Bonds has made a corporate donation, and it is greatly appreciated.  Tonya and Greg have given no less than a miracle to these children in Uganda.  The opportunity for a child to go to school in this remote area of South Western Uganda, is truly, no less than a miracle in the life of a child.  Thank you, Tonya and Greg, for your support and helping to create this miracle in Uganda “

To support a child for a year or make a general donation, checks may be made to “UDI” and sent to Uganda Development Initiative, 6433 Topanga Canyon Blvd, #559, Canoga Park, CA 91303.

ABOUT GREG RYNERSON BAIL BONDS – Greg Rynerson Bail Bonds specializes in professional bail bond services 24/7/365 for all of California.  The Los Angeles based, family owned and operated business originated in Santa Ana in 1971.  Further information is available at www.888BailBond.com.

ABOUT  UGANDA  DEVELOPMENT  INITIATIVE — UDI is a California non-profit corporation formed to coordinate the work of churches all over California for the work in Uganda. It provides oversight of the projects which must be approved for grant. UDI deducts 5% for administrative costs. Visit them at UDIworks.org.

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Published: 12/13/2011

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How to Find the Best Criminal Defense Attorney

In order to find the best attorney for your case, you need to gather enough information so that you can make an informed decision.

You can ask friends and family members for any recommendations they have about a good criminal defense attorney. Those who are closest to you will have your best interest at heart and will help you to find the right attorney.

Not all lawyers are the same. Some may specialize in DUI whereas others may be stronger in robbery cases. You want to find a lawyer that has had plenty of experience in cases similar to yours.

When you begin to search for a criminal lawyer, you need to look into each attorney’s:

• Experience
• Practice specialties
• Years in practice
• Results from cases
• Track record
• Educational background
• Testimonials from clients

Speak with a few different attorneys when you begin your search. A reputable attorney will offer you a complimentary phone interview at a minimum. You don’t have to settle for the first lawyer you speak with. You want someone who makes you feel at ease and makes you feel confident in his or her abilities. An attorney is someone you want to have complete faith in, especially when your case could end with jail time.

Find out which bar associations each lawyer is a member of, what areas of California they serve and their areas of expertise. When you speak with each attorney, you can gauge his or her attitude. One may be more aggressive while another focuses on investigation. One may be ready to strike a deal while others want to fight it out in court. It’s important to find a lawyer that you trust. You want them to treat you with respect and keep you in the loop with everything that concerns your case.

Attorney’s fees can be expensive, so find one who can work around your financial situation. You might be more comfortable with an attorney with a private practice or prefer to have your case handled by a large firm. The choice is yours to make. Remember, it isn’t the size of the firm that matters; it’s the experience of your attorney and the way you feel about them that matters.

Finding the right criminal defense attorney for your unique situation is an important step in facing the charges laid against you. It is not a decision to be made lightly by randomly selecting a name from the phone book. Look at testimonials from past clients. Do research online. There are a large number of directories available to help you find the places to start in your search. Make sure you are getting the lawyer who is going to give you their absolute best.

Greg Rynerson Bail Bonds provides bail to all California jails 24x7x365. Please call to speak with a professional bondsman now: 1-888-224-5266.

Published: 12/09/2011

When someone is arrested the courts generally allow them to post a bail bond in order to get out of jail. This allows them to resume their day-to-day activities while awaiting mandated court appearances.  This further allows them to more easily consult with a criminal defense attorney, to return to work, and to return to a safe space surrounded by people who care for them until the case against them is resolved.

At the same time, not everyone who wishes to bail out of jail is afforded that option.  The court’s primary responsibility is to keep the public safe from harm.  That means if a person has been charged with an extremely violent act, has a history of prior arrest, and/or is considered to be a threat to society; a judge may deem that particular defendant ineligible for bail.  In this instance the defendant will be “remanded” to jail until his or her trial.

If a person is permitted to post bail, it becomes the responsibility of the bail bondsman to ensure the defendant appears at future court proceedings related to the charges filed against them.  If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail bondman will revoke the bond and send the defendant back to jail.

FINDING A BAIL BONDSMAN

Should you find yourself in a position where you need to bail bondsman, it is helpful if you can gather some information before making the initial call.  It’s best if you can provide the bail bonds company with the full name of the defendant, date of birth, the name of the jail they’ve been taken to and the bail amount. If the person taken into custody is an undocumented resident, that information will also be helpful. A professional bondsman will be able to help, even if you don’t have this information, so do not delay calling to initiate the process.

In the state of California, bail bonds cost 10% of the total bail amount. This means if a defendant’s bail has been set at $50,000, you can expect to the bail bond will cost $5,000.  In some instances, 8% bonds are available. Be sure to ask the bail bondsman you’re working with if you are eligible for this type of discount.

The process of bail bonds can be a bit intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.  Be sure to work with an expert bail bondsman with whom you feel comfortable, who is able to answer your bail questions, and whom you feel is best suited to help get your friend or family member out of jail fast.

Greg Rynerson Bail Bonds provides bail to all California jails 24x7x365. Please call to speak with a professional bondsman now: 1-888-224-5266.

Published: 12/8/2011

The LA County Board of Supervisors may soon approve a proposed renovation for two of the county’s jails, with an estimated cost of $1.4 billion. Both the Sheriff and the County Chief Executive believe that the renovations will serve to improve the safety of the system as well as reduce operating costs. Some members of the Board would prefer an alternative with a lower price tag.

With today’s economy, county officials will have to determine if the benefits of the renovation will outweigh the huge cost. It may be possible to find lower-cost alternatives to improve the facilities rather than divert those funds away from other important services that would also benefit from that money.

The proposal includes renovations to the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles as well as additions to the jail in Castaic, Pitchess Detention Center. The layout of Men’s Central Jail causes difficulty in observing the large population of inmates. Sheriff Lee Baca and County Chief executive William Fujioka both endorse the plan, feeling that modernizing the facilities will make them both safer and less costly to operate.

Some supervisors feel that such an enormous project needs to be voted on by the public.

A meeting is set for the end of the month in which supervisors will discuss the proposal. Other, less expensive, options will also be considered. These could include renovating only certain portions of the jails and the possibility of putting less-violent offenders on house arrest for the duration of their sentence.

The proposed renovations would allow for an additional 400 beds. This isn’t much when compared to the currently filled 23,000 beds. However, making modern improvements to the Men’s Central Jail will boost efficiency. Rather than having long rows of inmate cells, inmates will be housed in smaller groupings

At this time, violent inmates are housed in cells with ten beds in order to separate them from the rest of the population. Under the proposed plan, the jails will have 4,000 beds for high-security inmates in smaller cells. This will make it much easier to separate prisoners when the need arises.

A few of the county supervisors feel that it might be best to wait to see the full impact of California’s new realignment plan. Starting in October, state prisoners were transferred to county jails to serve out their sentences as part of the realignment in order to alleviate overcrowding in state prisons.

Los Angeles County was told to expect an extra 600 inmates last month. The actual number was closer to 900. This has led to concerns that county jails will soon be facing overcrowding issues themselves.
Source: $1.4-billion renovation proposed for two L.A. County jails

Published: 12/04/2011

But just because you’re easily able to find a California bail bondsman, that’s not to say you have any clue as to what it is he or she actually does.

What Happens When Someone Is Arrested

When a person is arrested they’re taken to a county jail facility where they will be booked and processed.  During that time, the bail amount will also be set.  That amount is determined based on the individual county’s bail schedule; a document which provides guidelines for bail based on the severity of the crime committed, whether the defendant has a prior history of arrest and whether he or she is considered to be a threat to society.  Suffice it to say, a person charged with run o the mill DUI will have a much lower bail than someone charged with attempted murder.

Using a Bail Bondsman

In order to be released from a California jail, a defendant has two options: post the full amount of the bail with the court in the form of cash or cashier’s check, or seek out the assistance of an expert bail bondsman.   In choosing the latter, the bail bond costs 10% of the total set bail.  That amount is a non-refundable fee charged by the bail bonds company for providing their services.  That fee is regulated by the California Department of Insurance and is considered across the board to be an industry standard.

After a bail bond has been arranged, the bondsman will then take a bond to the jail where the defendant is being detained to have it posted.  This bond, which is a legally binding contract, serves as a promise that the defendant will appear for necessary court proceedings related to the charges.   If they “fail to appear” in court, their bail will be revoked and a bench warrant will be issued for his or her immediate arrest.

If you find yourself in a position where you need to seek out the assistance of a California bail bondsman you will likely have a number of questions relating to how bail bonds work.  You’ll want to be sure to find someone who takes the time to address your concerns, who can explain how the process works, and who will treat you with dignity and respect.

Published: 11/24/2012

The final renovations are being made to the Burbank Police Department, Jail and Fire Headquarters in Burbank, California. This is great news for both the police officers and firefighters of the city. Offenders who are arrested in Burbank will soon be booked at the Burbank Jail again. Currently, Burbank Police Officers have to transport anyone they arrest to the Glendale Jail.

The Burbank facility first opened in 1998. Only two years after it opened, spot repairs became necessary throughout the building. Repairs were constantly needed in the police and jail facility up through 2008. At that time, major renovations were agreed on by city officials in order to bring the facility back into good condition.

Water damage in the facility was discovered soon after it opened. In 2000, the water damage was even more noticeable on the shower walls in the firefighter locker room. Leaks were also found throughout the parking garage and other areas. Repairs were also needed to the concrete flooring in the building, particularly in the area of the police department and jail.

The concrete flooring in the jail, which is sub-terrain, was found to be too thin in some areas. Repairs would mean completely removing and then reinstalling the limestone floors in order to make them more supportive.

The City of Burbank filed suit against Kajima Construction Services, the original contractor for the project, in 2008. The city felt that the damages were a direct result of the substandard workmanship of the contractor. The suit was settled that August with Kajima for $3.16 million. WLC Architects also paid $475,000 as part of the settlement.

The work on the jail area of the facility was the most complicated part of the renovation. All of the concrete flooring had to be replaced. In order to do so, everything had to be removed from the jail, including everything that has to do with securing the jail, electronic-locks, doors, security, etc. Once the floor is replaced, the entire jail will have to be rewired.

With the Burbank Jail under construction, inmates could not be housed at the facility. Instead, officers have been transporting anyone arrested to the Glendale Jail. The time spent driving arrestees takes away from the response time for local calls. Having the Burbank Jail open again will be a great relief to all of the officers.

Until the Burbank Jail opens next year, anyone who needs to post bail anyone arrested by the Burbank Police Department will have to do so at the Glendale Jail. Burbank jailers are working at the Glendale facility until the reopening. When a bail bondsman needs to post bail for someone at the Glendale Jail, the bondsman needs to specify if he is there for Burbank Bail Bonds or Glendale Bail Bonds.

It is believed that the current project will be completed by the end of March 2012, nearly a year from the start of the final phase of renovations. The estimated total cost of the reconstruction is $9.5 million. The final phase of the project is funded by redevelopment monies. The beginning phase was covered by money from the Capital Projects Holding Account.

Last Updated:  11/20/2011