Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: 200,000 administrative fee on bail bon

you either post a bond with an agent that charges 10% non-refundabe, or post the entire $200k with the court, refundable. In either case, if the person 'skips' you lose the entire $200k. He could also try to get the bail amount reduced by court order.

Re: 200,000 administrative fee on bail bon

Bail can be posted in several different ways.

1. Cash can be taken, or cashier's check, can be taken to the clerk of the court and posted with the court.

2. Real property located in California can be used to post bail. The equityin the property must be 2 times the amount of bail, that is in this case $400,000.

3. Certain government bonds can be deposited with the clerk of the court as bail.

4. A premium of 10% that is $20,000 can be paid to a bail bondsman, who will post a $200,000 bond. The premium paid to the bail bondsman is just that a premium and is not refundable.

After the case is completed the court will exonorate bail. About 6 -8 weeks later the bail will be returned to the person posting it. THis will occur whether or not the defendant is convicted. The only risk is that the person will not appear in court and bail will be forfieted. In which case the $200,000 will be taken by the state. There are provisions which allow the non appearing defendant to be arrested and returned to jail.

The process can be complex and very risky. This is especially true where the person was arrested in a state thousands of miles away.