SONOMA POLICE DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Sonoma offers visitors and residents numerous attractions all year round. This includes the historic plaza, the world's best wine tasting, premier golf, world class spas and more.  The City serves as an economic hub for the rural Sonoma Valley, which has a population of about 39,000.

The City of Sonoma has contracted with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department in order to provide its law enforcement services. The Sonoma Police Department still provides the same high level of service it always has, and has added several new positions in response the community needs.

Under the direction of Chief of Police Bret Sackett, the department is staffed by two Sergeants, nine deputies, a School Resource Officer, a Traffic Officer, two Community Service Officers and two administrative positions.

When someone is arrested in Sonoma, both males and females will be transported to the Sonoma County jail, for booking and processing into the system. It is important to understand that bail cannot be arranged until the booking process is complete, which may take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours.

Additionally, the jail staff cannot let us know in advance the exact time the inmate will be released, however, once they are released, they will have access to a phone.

BAIL PROCESS AND COST

As part of the bail bond process, we will ask various questions needed to complete the bail application. We consider several factors such as the length of time living in California, their employment situation, credit rating, crime committed, etc.

These facts will be considered for both the defendant and the indemnitor (the person signing for the bail bond). We do this in order to determine risk and, hopefully, not require any collateral from you.

A bail bond in Sonoma, as in all of California costs 10%, which is mandated by law. This is a non-refundable percentage of the total amount of the bail. For example, should the bail amount be $30,000, your portion will cost $3,000. We accept all major credit cards.

Most clients find using a credit card the easiest way to pay for a bail bond. You may also choose to pay in cash.  Many customers are not aware that they can simply pay by using their credit card and very likely won't need to leave their home in order to obtain the bond.