The quick answer to that question is no. In order to get someone out of jail you are not legally required to work with a Santa Clara bail bondsman.
Many people have never needed to bail someone out before and it’s not uncommon for people to be unfamiliar with how the process works. People who work in the bail industry are highly trained experts who know how the jail system works. They know what needs to be done in order to get someone released from custody fast.
For a fee equal to 10% of the defendant’s bail amount a bondsman will post a piece of paper at the jail called a bail bond. The bond promises the defendant will return to court, when required, to resolve their case. If the defendant decides to flee, the bondsman agrees to take responsibility for locating them and getting them back into the system. Every time a bondsman posts a bond they are taking on a certain amount of liability. This is why they charge a non-refundable fee for their services.
If you do not wish to work with a bondsman, you have the option of posting cash bail or a property bond. In order to post cash bail you’ll need to bring the full amount of the defendant’s bail to the jail in the form of cash or a cashier’s check. If you wish to post a property bond, you will need to own a piece of property that has two times the equity of the defendant’s bail. Before a property bond will be accepted you will need to provide updated inspections and appraisal information. Property bonds often take at least a month to arrange. As long as the defendant goes to court when required, cash bail and property bonds will be returned to the person who posted it at the end of their case.
