Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers to Frequently Asked Bail Questions
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Table of Contents
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How long does it take to get out on Bail?
The paperwork takes approximately 15-30 minutes. The release
time after the jail receives our paperwork is generally
one hour or less for local police stations and 3-12 hours
for county jails. Generally speaking, the busier the holding
facility, the longer it takes.
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Where are you located?
Our office locations are as follows:
Corporate Office 174 W. Mckinley Ave.
Pomona, Ca 91768 800-315-2245
909-620-2707 fax
Apex North 6314 Van Nuys Blvd.
Van Nuys, CA 91401 888-976-2245
818-908-1974
Apex East 8808 Las Tunas
San Gabriel, CA 91776 888-323-2245
626-285-3215 fax
Apex West 12355 E. Imperial Hwy
Norwalk, CA 90650 800-737-2245
562-663-0713 Fax
Apex South 9039 Bolsa Ave., Ste 302
Westminister, Ca 92683 877-232-2245
714-799-1315
We have agents throughout the United States with strong representation
in major metropolitan areas. The best way to determine if we
can serve you is to call us at 1-800-315-2245.
There are a few areas in which we do not currently have agents:
Knoxville, TN
Nashville, TN
Topeka, KS
Dallas, TX
The states of New York, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah,
West Virginia, & Wisconsin
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Why don't I get my Premium back?
Bail premiums (a.k.a. the 10% you pay) are normally fixed
by contract with the state.
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Why can't I do a cash bail myself?
You usually can for traffic and minor violations. While a
few jurisdictions do allow cash bail by citizens who sign
an appearance guarantee and / or post the entire bail (not
just the 10% premium), most states now require a licensed
bond agent.to guarantee. This way the state knows it can
instantly collect the entire bond amount plus it can put
the burden of apprehending those who fail to appear on
the bond agency. Put another way, most states do not hassle
with collateral and property, they collect bail forfeitures
in cash.
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What is and isn't good Collateral?
Anything which you own and has significant resale value is
good collateral.
A house on which you pay a mortgage is considered good collateral
up to the difference between it's value and the amount you
still owe on the mortgage.
Note that except for a house, items which you have bought on
credit and are making payments are not usually collateral unless
you hold the title (a.k.a. pink slip). For example, a car
on which you have a loan in which the lender holds the title
and you make payments is not collateral because lender has
a lien on the vehicle.
You may keep possession of major collateral
items (e.g. House, Boat, Cars, Motor Homes) as long as the
Bail Agent holds the title (a.k.a. pink slip).
Personal items of high value (e.g. jewelry, fire arms, computers,
cameras, stereos) can be used as collateral but normally
must be surrendered to the Bail Agent who will hold them
in a safe or other secure place. These items are normally
valued at their current resale value, not what you originally
paid for them.
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When do I get my Collateral back?
Upon completion of the court case. This happens when:
- The charges are dropped.
- The person is found innocent at trial.
- The person is sentenced at trial.
Of course, the Collateral will only be returned if there
is no outstanding balance due on the Premium. The Bail
Bond Agent has a fidiciary (formal legal) responsibility
to safeguard all collateral.
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What are the chances that the person will be released on their
Own Recognizance (OR)?
OR release practices vary widely by court jurisdiction. Generally
the more severe the charge, the less likely OR release is.
Checking with the court or a criminal attorney is probably
the best way to gauge the chances other than asking the jailers
themselves.
A judge is likely to consider a person's stability in the
community and in their employment when setting bail. But you
should also know that bails and OR release standards have been
raised in domestic dispute cases over the past few years. Some
states now even have "mandatory cooling off " periods
in which bail is not immediately granted for these types of
cases.
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What happens if the person does not appear in court as promised?
A bench warrant is issued for the person's arrest and the
person's name will appear in police bulletins as a fugitive.
Although specifics vary depending on the jurisdiction,
generally the court also authorizes the Bail Agency arrest
authority for the individual as well.
The Bail Agency normally calls the person's home, work, and
other references to try to find the fugitive and convince them
to appear. If these efforts are unsuccessful, the Agency may
then search and employ apprehension specialists (a.k.a. Bounty
Hunters) to arrest the fugitive.
From the perspective of someone who guaranteed the appearance
by posting collateral, you want to convince the fugitive to
surrender himself to the police or court as soon as possible.
Normally, if the fugitive is returned before actual remittance
to the state, you can usually get your collateral back. Also,
judges tend to get more irritated the longer a fugitive stays
at large.
If the fugitive does not surrender and cannot be found by
the forfeiture date, the Bail Agency remits the entire bond
to the court and proceeds with legal action to seize and liquidate
your collateral. By law, the Bail Agency is required to refund
any value received in excess of the Bail amount following liquidation.
Because Apex Bail Bonds has very experienced Bail Agents and
we do not bail hardened criminals, we have one of the best
appearance rates in the industry. We also have some of the
best Bounty Hunters in the business who have apprehended major
felons and fugitives for other agencies. Thus we are justifiably
proud never to have had one of our bailees get away. As a guarantor,
you will be glad that we are good at what we do.
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Copyright, Apex Bail Bonds, 1997 - 2013 All Rights Reserved
