If you or a friend or family member has been arrested in Orange County, the following are a few things you need to know to get out of jail:
(1) Posting bail. The usual way to get released from jail is to “post bail.” Bail is cash or a cash equivalent that an arrested person gives to a court to ensure that he will appear in court when ordered to do so. If the defendant appears in court at the proper time, the court refunds the bail. But if the defendant doesn’t show up, the court keeps the bail and issues a warrant for the defendant’s arrest.
(2) Bail Payment. Bail can take any of the following forms: cash or check for the full amount of the bail , property worth the full amount of the bail, a bond (that is, a guaranteed payment of the full bail amount), or a waiver of payment on the condition that the defendant appear in court at the required time– usually called “release on one’s own recognizance.”
(3) Getting Out of Jail Free. As motioned, sometimes people are released “on their own recognizance,” or “O.R.” A defendant released O.R. must simply sign a promise to show up in court. He doesn’t have to post bail. In general, defendants who are released O.R. have strong ties to a community, making them unlikely to flee. Factors that may convince a judge to grant an O.R. release include the following: family and community ties, employment, past criminal record and past history of appearing in court.
Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney William Weinberg has helped hundreds of clients get released from custody. If you or someone you know has been arrested and needs to get out of jail please contact us at (714) 834-1400 for a consultation.