Is someone you know eligible for bail in Los Angeles? More often than not, when someone is charged with a crime, they’re eligible for release from jail until their trial. In some rare instances, bail will be denied under certain circumstances.
Ineligibility for Bail
The Los Angeles County Felony Bail Schedule is a document that outlines the bail amount for certain crimes. The vast majority of felonies contained within have bail amounts associated with them, including murder. However, in certain instances, a person being charged with one of these crimes will be ineligible for bail.
For example, bail exists for murder charges, but not a murder charge that carries the possibility of life without parole or the death sentence. The courts feel that no monetary amount is sufficient to ensure a defendant returns to court when they are facing the possibility of one of these outcomes. Additionally, cases which involve aggravated sexual abuse may leave a defendant ineligible for bail.
If a person is initially held without bail, they will have their chance to make their case at a bail hearing. At the hearing, the defendant’s attorney can ask a judge to lower particularly high bail amounts, or try to convince a judge that their client deserves bail to be set. At a bail hearing, the number one factor a judge will take into consideration is the threat to public safety that the defendant poses. If the judge deems that threat is significant, bail will be either raised or outright denied for the defendant. Hence why suspects of certain sexual abuse crimes can have their bail denied, while a murderer can be eligible.
Ultimately, if someone you know has been arrested and charged with a crime, it’s highly unlikely that their bail will be denied. If you’re unsure, you can always give a trusted bail bondsman a call and ask – we’re always happy to help.
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