Getting Released from Custody
If you have been arrested on suspicion of committing a crime, there are several ways you can be released from custody. One method is to post bail, which is an amount of money used to ensure you will return to court for future appearences. By posting a bail bond, you are allowed to go free while preparing your defense for DUI or any other criminal charge.
Depending on the severity of the charges and your prior record, it may be possible for you to be released from custody on your own recognizance, or O.R. as it is commonly known. Getting out of custody on personal recognizance is generally allowed when the charge involves a minor, nonviolent type of crime. You cannot be considered a danger to anyone else, or a flight risk who won’t appear for your court date, in order for personal recognizance to be considered.
What You Need to Know About Types of Bail BondsThere are several types of bail that you can meet in order to be released from custody. They include:
- Cash bail
- Surety bond/bail bond
- Property bonds
Depending on your financial situation, you may be able to pay cash (or credit card) to meet your bond obligation. A more common option is having a friend or family post collateral for a bail bond through a bail bondsman for an 8-10% fee. If you own property, it can be pledged against your bail amount and a lien will be placed on the property until your bond is released at the end of your case.
DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys On Your SideOne of the many benefits of having an experienced DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney by your side is our ability to present facts to the court that prove O.R. is appropriate versus being held in custody. If bail remains an issue, every charge has a specific bail amount associated with it and bond amounts will vary by county. The judge can deviate from the suggested bail amount based on factors such as lack of prior record, seriousness of the crime, and your overall reputation in the community.
The experinced DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys at Hoffman & Associates can file a bail review motion that asks the court to review your bail status if you are in custody and cannot afford bail. Depending on the circumstances of your case, we may be able to get your bail reduced or get you released on your own recognizance.
Call our offices today for a phone or office consultation to discuss the facts of your case. We have over 30 years of courtroom experience throughout California and will work to get you released from custody as soon as possible.