Bail Schedules

Dedicated Criminal Defense Attorneys in Los Angeles

After a person is arrested for a crime, the court must decide whether to release them on bail, or keep them in custody. If bail is granted, the court must determine what amount to set. Generally, the determination of whether to grant bail is based on whether the court believes the defendant is at risk for not appearing in court or is a danger to the community.

Most counties have set “bail schedules” that set a standard bail amount for specified crimes. The judge will use the bail schedule as a baseline, and can vary the amount of bail based on the circumstances of the crime and the defendant’s characteristics.

Below are some counties’ bail schedules:

• Los Angeles County
  • Misdemeanor: https://www.lacourt.org/division/criminal/pdf/misd.pdf 
  • Felony: https://www.lacourt.org/division/criminal/pdf/felony.pdf
• Orange County: http://www.occourts.org/directory/criminal/felonybailsched.pdf
• San Bernardino County: http://www.sb-court.org/Portals/0/Documents/PDF/General%20Information/Felony-Misdemeanor-Bail-Schedule.pdf
• Riverside County: http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/bailschedule.pdf
• San Diego County: http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/SDCOURT/CRIMINAL2/CRIMINALRESOURCES/BAIL_SCHEDULE.PDF
• Ventura County: http://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/pdf_files/bail_schedule.pdf
• Santa Barbara County: http://www.sbcourts.org/dv/bail/FelonyBailSchedule.pdf

Your attorney can challenge the court’s decision to deny bail–or set bail too high–at a bail hearing.

Bail & Federal Court

If you are charged in federal court, the judge will not use a bail schedule, and will instead base bail on the following factors: the nature and circumstances of the offense, the weight of the evidence, your history and characteristics, and the nature and seriousness of the danger to community if you were released.[1]

If you are charged with certain serious crimes, the law presumes that bail should be denied. Your attorney must rebut the presumption to convince the court that you should be released on bail.

The Los Angeles Defense Attorneys at Moaddel Law Firm have the Answers

It is essential to retain a trusted Los Angeles criminal defense attorney as soon as possible because obtaining pretrial release is one of the most important factors in obtaining a favorable resolution of your case. Defendants who are released on bond are better able to assist their attorney in preparing their defense, and are less likely to take an unfavorable or unfair plea bargain in order to be released for time served. Additionally, pretrial release allows you to remain with your family and continue working or going to school.

Call Moaddel Law Firm if you have been given a court date for the counsel you need–(877) 375-8188!

[1] 18 U.S.C. § 3142(g).