Know Your Rights: What Is Excessive Bail?

What Is Excessive Bail?: general information about your rights in California. This is not legal advice.

Overview

Excessive bail is bail set at an amount higher than needed to reasonably ensure a person returns to court. The Eighth Amendment and California law prohibit it.

How It Works

Whether an amount is excessive varies with the charge, the person's history and ability to pay, and other facts.

Practical Steps

A defense attorney can ask the court for a bail review.

Questions to Ask an Attorney

Consider asking:

What are the exact charges, and are they misdemeanors or felonies?
Can the court review the bail amount, and when is the next hearing?
What release conditions might apply?
What should the family avoid saying or doing?

Before You Call a Bail Agent

Gather what you can from this list before you call:

The person's full legal name and date of birth
The booking number, if you have it
The jail or station where the person is held
The charges, if known
Your own name and phone number

Talk to Bail Bonds Monterey Park Experts

Bail Bonds Monterey Park Experts is based at 220 S. Glendora Ave Suite J, Glendora, CA 91741 and takes calls at (626) 513-8778 (open 24 hours / 7 days). For your rights: what is excessive bail?, an agent can explain how bonds work in Los Angeles County, where people are held after an arrest by Monterey Park Police Department, such as Men's Central Jail, and which courthouse, for example Alhambra Courthouse (serving Monterey Park), hears the case.

A Note on Limits

Rules and local practice change over time. Check the current bail schedule and court procedures with the county, and use this page as general background only, not as legal advice.