How Bail Works in Sacramento County — Process and Costs

Bail is money or a bond that a defendant provides to the court as a guarantee that they will appear at all future court dates. When bail is posted, the defendant is released from jail while their case moves through the court system. If the defendant appears at all required hearings, the bail is returned or the bond is exonerated when the case concludes.

Bail is not a fine and it is not a punishment. It is a financial guarantee of the defendant's future court appearances.

When someone is arrested and booked in Sacramento County, bail is set in one of two ways:

Bail schedule. The Sacramento County Superior Court publishes a bail schedule that assigns a preset bail amount to each criminal charge. For many common offenses, the defendant can post bail immediately based on the schedule amount without waiting to see a judge.

Judge-set bail. For more serious charges, or if the defendant has significant criminal history, a judge may set bail at arraignment. The judge considers the severity of the charges, the defendant's ties to the community, criminal history, and flight risk. The judge may set bail higher or lower than the schedule amount, or in some cases deny bail entirely.

Cash bail. The defendant or a family member posts the full bail amount in cash directly with the jail or court. The money is returned when the case concludes, minus any fees. Most people do not have enough cash available to post bail this way.

Bail bond (surety bond). This is the most common method. A licensed bail bond company posts the bond on behalf of the defendant in exchange for a premium — 10 percent of the total bail amount. The premium is non-refundable. This is the service Citrus Heights Bail Bonds provides.

Property bond. Real property such as a home is pledged as collateral for the full bail amount. Property bonds are rare because they require a court hearing and take days or weeks to process.

Own recognizance (OR) release. A judge releases the defendant without requiring bail, based on the defendant's promise to appear. OR release is typically reserved for low-level offenses and defendants with strong community ties and no significant criminal history.

Someone is arrested and booked at Sacramento County Main Jail or a local city jail.

Bail is set according to the Sacramento County Bail Schedule or by a judge.

A family member or friend calls Citrus Heights Bail Bonds at (916) 300-6736.

We confirm the defendant's booking status, charges, and bail amount.

You complete a short application by phone. All documents are signed electronically.

You pay the bail bond premium — 10 percent of the total bail. Payment plans available.

We post the bail bond at Sacramento County Main Jail.

The jail processes the release. At Sacramento County Main Jail, this typically takes two to six hours after posting.

The defendant must appear at all court dates. We send automatic reminders.

When the case concludes and the defendant has made all appearances, the bond is exonerated.

The bail bond premium in California is 10 percent of the total bail amount. This rate is set by the California Department of Insurance and is the same at every bail bond company. No company can legally charge less than 10 percent.

Examples:

$10,000 bail = $1,000 premium

$25,000 bail = $2,500 premium

$50,000 bail = $5,000 premium

$100,000 bail = $10,000 premium

The premium is non-refundable. It is the fee for the bail bond service — it is not returned when the case concludes.

We offer flexible payment plans so the full premium does not need to be paid upfront. We accept cash, credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers.

Q: Is bail the same as a fine?

A: No. Bail is a guarantee of court appearance. It is returned or exonerated when the case concludes. A fine is a penalty imposed after conviction.

Q: Can bail be reduced?

A: Yes. A defense attorney can request a bail reduction hearing. The judge considers the defendant's ties to the community, employment, criminal history, and the severity of the charges.

Q: What is an indemnitor?

A: The indemnitor is the person who signs the bail bond application and takes financial responsibility for the defendant's court appearances. If the defendant fails to appear, the indemnitor may be liable for the full bail amount.

Q: How long does the bail bond last?

A: The bond remains active until the case concludes — whether by dismissal, plea, or trial. This can be weeks, months, or in some cases over a year.

Q: What happens if the defendant misses a court date?

A: If the defendant fails to appear, the court issues a bench warrant and the bail bond is subject to forfeiture. The indemnitor becomes liable for the full bail amount. Contact us immediately if a court date is missed — there is often a short window to resolve the situation.

Q: Do you offer payment plans?

A: Yes. We offer flexible payment plans for qualifying clients. Call (916) 300-6736 to discuss your situation.