24/7 Bail Bonds & Inmate Search — California · Texas · Licensed · Insured
PC §1320 · PC §1320.5 · 24/7 Statewide
Failure To Appear
Bail Bonds In California
Missing a court date doesn't just risk a bench warrant — it can add a new criminal charge on top of the original case. The Bail Network posts FTA bail across California with licensed agents already working the county jail your loved one is in — 24/7.
Table Of Contents
Everything families ask about failure to appear bail bonds in California. Click any section below to jump straight to the information you need.
What Are Failure To Appear (FTA) Bail Bonds?
How California charges a missed court date — and why being on bail makes it worse.
What A FTA Bail Bond Costs
The 10% premium fixed by law and a 1% down structure.
Our Reviews
What California families say after we posted their bond.
Charges We Handle
Beyond FTA — every charge our agents bond.
Down Payment Tiers
1%, 3%, 5%, 10% — and how your tier is assigned.
Benefits Of Using The Bail Network
A local licensed agent instead of a statewide call center.
Who Qualifies (And Who Doesn't)
What helps you qualify and what moves you up a tier.
Cases Approved For 1% Down
The FTA profiles that land in the lowest tier.
Cases At A Higher Tier
Felony FTA, repeat missed dates, and open warrants.
The Bail Process On A FTA Case
Bench warrant to release, step by step.
What We Need When You Call
The six details that let us move immediately.
FAQs For FTA Bail Bonds
Straight answers to the questions we hear most.
Counties We Serve
Our 13-county California footprint.
What Are Failure To Appear (FTA) Bail Bonds?
A plain-English breakdown of how California charges a missed court date, and why being on bail at the time makes it worse.
FTA While On Own Recognizance: Penal Code §1320
PC §1320 applies when someone released without bail willfully fails to appear to evade the court process. A misdemeanor underlying case makes this a misdemeanor; a felony underlying case makes it a felony.
FTA While On Bail (Felony): Penal Code §1320.5
PC §1320.5 applies specifically when someone was released on bail in a felony case and then fails to appear. Because bail was already posted, courts treat this more seriously — up to 3 years state prison and a $10,000 fine.
A Bench Warrant Follows Automatically
Missing court triggers an automatic bench warrant for arrest, and under California Criminal Jury Instructions (CALCRIM 2240), failing to appear within 14 days is presumed willful unless proven otherwise.
It's A Separate Charge, On Top Of The Original One
An FTA conviction stacks on top of whatever the original case already carried — new bail, new financing tier, and often a higher bail amount on the underlying charge once it's reinstated.
What A FTA Bail Bond Costs
| Total Bail | Standard 10% Premium | 1% Down | Remaining Financed Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $500 | $50 | $450 |
| $15,000 | $1,500 | $150 | $1,350 |
| $30,000 | $3,000 | $300 | $2,700 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 | $500 | $4,500 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 | $1,000 | $9,000 |
1% down is a qualification-based tier. The full 10% premium is set by California law and is still owed. A felony FTA under §1320.5, or a second missed court date, typically moves a case to a 5% or 10% tier.
Our Reviews
Real reviews from the families we’ve helped — pulled straight from Google.
Charges We Handle
Our California agents post bonds for a wide range of charges. If it’s bondable, someone in the network already works that jail.
Not sure if your situation qualifies? Call us — we’ll tell you honestly whether we can help.
Call (213) 510-2764Down Payment Tiers
Four tiers, assigned honestly based on the cosigner's profile and the FTA history on record. You'll know your tier before any paperwork moves.
1% Down
Who qualifies: Strong-credit cosigner (700+), stable employment.
Notes: Rare on FTA cases — most common when the underlying charge itself was low-level and the missed date was clearly not willful (medical emergency, documented error).
3% Down
Who qualifies: Fair-to-good credit cosigner (640+), steady employment 12+ months.
Notes: Usual tier for a first-time misdemeanor FTA under PC §1320.
5% Down
Who qualifies: Cosigner with limited credit but strong income.
Notes: Common on felony FTA filings under PC §1320.5. Payment plan structured over 6–12 months.
10% Down (Full Premium Up Front)
Who qualifies: No cosigner, no credit, high-risk profile (second FTA, active bench warrant history).
Notes: FTA cases are inherently higher flight-risk, so this tier is common.
Benefits Of Using The Bail Network On An FTA Case
What you actually get when you call us about a bench warrant — not a promise, a process.
Available 24/7 — Every Day Of The Year
Bench warrants get served at any hour. Licensed agents answer day or night.
A Local Agent, Not A Call Center
You reach an agent who already works the jail your loved one is being held in.
Bilingual Agents (English & Spanish)
Intake, paperwork, and payment plans handled in both languages.
We Explain The Bench Warrant Process Upfront
An active bench warrant changes the timeline and financing options. We walk you through exactly what to expect before you sign.
Honest Qualification Upfront
If a second FTA takes you out of a lower tier, we tell you before you sign.
Who Qualifies (And Who Doesn’t)
What Helps You Qualify
- Cosigner with verifiable income and stable employment
- First FTA on record, no history of bond forfeiture
- Documented reason for the missed date (medical, clerical error)
- Local California address, no active additional warrants
- Underlying charge is low-level
What Moves You Up A Tier
- No cosigner available and no verifiable credit or income
- Felony FTA under PC §1320.5
- Second or subsequent missed court date
- Active bench warrant from another case
- Out-of-state defendant with no local ties
Lowest Tier
Cases Approved For 1% Down
These are the FTA profiles that land in our lowest down-payment tier. Hit most of these and 1% down is realistic.
First-Time FTA, Documented Reason
Missed date with a clear, documented reason (medical, clerical), no prior FTA.
Qualified Cosigner
Credit score generally 700+, homeowner or verifiable equity.
Cosigner Requirements & Qualification
Underwriting
Cases At A Higher Tier
These factors move an FTA case out of the 1% tier. They don't make the bond impossible — they change the down payment.
Second Or Subsequent FTA
A repeat missed court date is treated as a significant flight-risk indicator.
Underlying Felony Charge
The original case itself was a felony, which raises the FTA charge to felony level too.
No Cosigner Or No Local Ties
Out-of-state defendant, no verifiable income, no cosigner available.
Cosigner Requirements & Qualification
The Bail Process On An FTA Case
- 1
Bench Warrant & Arrest
A bench warrant is issued automatically once a court date is missed; the defendant is booked upon arrest.
- 2
Call The Bail Network
Call with the defendant's full legal name, date of birth, and the arresting agency or jail.
- 3
Qualification & Approval
We verify the cosigner's profile and check FTA history — this determines your tier.
- 4
Bond Posted At The Jail
A licensed agent posts the bond directly at the facility holding the defendant.
- 5
Payment Plan Begins
The financed balance is paid on the schedule signed — weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
What We Need When You Call
To move quickly, it helps to have a few key details ready when you contact The Bail Network. Don't worry if you don't have everything — we can often look it up for you.
Defendant's Full Legal Name
First and last name as it appears on their ID. If you only know a first name, their date of birth helps us confirm the right record.
Date Of Birth
Prevents confusion when multiple people share the same name in the same county system.
City Or County Of Arrest
Tells us which facility to check first and which local agent to dispatch.
Booking Number (If Available)
Not required, but it lets us pull the record and the bail amount in seconds.
Cosigner Contact Info
Name, phone, and employment details for whoever will sign — this is what sets your down-payment tier.
Your Relationship To The Defendant
Family, friend, attorney — helps us know who to loop in on updates.
Who’s Answering The Phone
A Network Of Agents Already At Your County’s Jail
The Bail Network isn’t one call center covering an entire state. It’s a vetted network of licensed California bail agents, each already working the jails in the county they cover. When you call, you reach someone who posts bonds at that jail every week — not someone reading from a script in another state.
FAQs For FTA Bail Bonds
We know families have urgent questions after a bench warrant arrest. Here are answers to the questions we hear most.
Find An Inmate
Counties We Serve
Licensed FTA bail agents across our 13-county California footprint — each one already working the jails in the county they cover.