If you are not sure how the process works with bail bonds in Oakland, there is plenty of information about this topic so that you have a better understanding if you have a friend, relative, or anyone else you know that may be in this type of situation. You may find the easiest way to understand how bail bonds work in Oakland is to get on the Internet and do some thorough research. However, if you need information quickly due to circumstances, here are some basic answers to some questions that you may have about bail bonds in Alameda County.

• What is a bail bond?

This is actually the top question that people ask about. This is a contract that is between licensed agents, or also known as bondsmen and the court that states that the agent is giving reassurance that the arrested person is going to appear in all court hearings or pay the face amount of bail to the court.

• How much does this service cost?

The standard rate is between 8 to 10% of the face amount of the bail that was set for that person. This is something that you would need to discuss with the agent on the costs and fees once you contact the agency. In California, all bondsmen are required to file a notice with the Department of Insurance that indicates the rates they charge to the public. These agents are also required to publish their rates in a very visible, obvious place on a wall inside of their office or place of business.

• How does the bail process work?

If the court decides to set bail for the person who was arrested, any individual can secure the person’s release from jail while the case is pending. This can be done by placing property or cash equal to the face amount of bail to use as collateral with the court. Once the case has been resolved, the court returns the collateral back to the person who made the payment.

There are many times the person is not able to come up with the money or has no property to put up for collateral. This is when a bondsman can come to your rescue. The person who was arrested will need a co-signer to take care of the bail that was set and sign the paperwork that was set up by the agency. At this point, the agent will deliver the necessary paperwork and money to the court and the person will be released from jail, which can take from 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how busy the jail is with other people who may be awaiting for release. These are just general questions about the process of bail bonds in Oakland. If you have further questions or need additional information, feel free to contact All-Pro Bail Bonds 24 hours a day.

Los Angeles, CA — As one of the largest cities in California, Los Angeles (L.A.) has jails offering a variety of services. The following outlines visitor information for those that have a friend or family member in an L.A. Jail and are interested in seeing them:

• All persons requesting visitation privileges must possess a valid photo ID.
• Minors under the age of 16 years must remain under the close supervision of their legal guardian.
• Record checks may be made if considered necessary for the security of the inmates, employees, visitors or the facility.
• The Inmate Reception Center offers information regarding Inmate records, money, property, funds and bail.

To request additional information on the following services listed below offered by the L.A. Jails, visit http://app4.lasd.org/iic/ajis_search.cfm.

• Inmate Care Package – Fast and convenient delivery of great products to inmates
• Medical Services – Inmate’s medical information may be faxed to Jail Medical Services so they can be properly cared for
• Establish a Prepaid Calling Account – A calling account may be prepaid in order for an inmate to make additional calls
• Education Programs – Basic educational programs provided
• Information regarding visibility of records – Instruction provided about what records may be seen, how long records are visible, what the limitations are, and who has access to these records

January 1, 2011 – New laws have taken effect in California this year. These include:

• Marijuana – Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is now classified as an infraction, which is a similar to a parking ticket. A person may still receive a $100 fine but offense cannot be included on a person’s criminal record.
• Motorcycles – Any person under the age of 21 years who wishes to obtain an instruction permit must first complete a motorcycle safety course. This permit is required to be held for six months before a class M motorcycle license is issued.
• Impersonating someone online – California laws regarding impersonation online have been updated: It is now a misdemeanor to harm, intimidate, threaten, or defraud a person while impersonating someone else through email or a social networking site.
• Truancy – Enforcement agencies are now permitted to file a misdemeanor charge against parents of truant elementary school children if it is determined that the parents did not reasonably supervise their children and encourage them to attend school.

For more information, visit http://www.sacramentocriminaldefenselawyerblog.com/2011/01/new-laws-for-california-in-201.html.