Santa Monica Courthouse

The starting bail figure comes from the Los Angeles Superior Court’s felony and misdemeanor bail schedule, adopted under Penal Code §1269b, and review or reduction of that figure runs under Penal Code §1270.1.

Bail moves in two stages. At booking, the county schedule applies administratively — no judge involved, postable immediately. At the first court appearance, a judicial officer reviews that figure and can leave it, raise it, reduce it, or grant own-recognizance release.

Posting before that hearing isn’t a gamble. If the court later reduces bail, the premium is already earned — but the defendant spent the intervening days at home rather than in custody. If bail is increased instead, having posted early is exactly why they weren’t in custody for the hearing.

The bond itself is posted at the facility physically holding the defendant, not at a courthouse counter. We handle that. What we need to start: a full legal name, a date of birth, and a short cosigner conversation.

Every bond is issued by a California Department of Insurance-licensed agent under Cal. Ins. Code §1800, at the statutory 10% premium — as low as 1% down on approved credit.