The defendant's chief and immediate concern when arrested is getting out of custody. This is, of course, no small concern. In fact, Mr. Bruno acknowledges that if he were arrested, it would be his immediate concern as well. Because it is so important, and because being in custody can be so overwhelming, the conditions are ripe for making a very poor decision when it comes to assessing bail and bail considerations.

First, take a moment and think. If you are reading this, you are likely a family member who has been assigned the responsibility of getting another family member or friend out of custody. Should you first call the bail agent? Should you open the phone book and simply choose the best looking advertisement and call up a bail bondsman? No, you should not. Bail bondsman to perform a very critical service to those who have been arrested and are put in jail. They also perform a very limited service that uses up a significant amount of a defendant's resources. Once the bail bondsman has released you from jail, upon payment of a significant sum of money, you are working for him. You have to check in with the bail bondsman, make all of your court dates on time, make your premium payments like clockwork; and if you do not, you will be threatened with revocation of the bond. As bail is a significant and costly undertaking, it is easy to see why a bondsman has the right to demand the above from those he bails out of custody.

While all bail bondsman claim to provide discounts or to be the cheapest, a skilled local criminal defense attorney like Mr. Bruno will know who actually provides the most cost effective bail, in addition to providing the best service to the client. Mr. Bruno works with a host of bail companies and is acutely aware of which companies are best to suit and individual client's needs. The bail companies that Mr. Bruno works with understand that it makes no sense to spend all of your money on bail and not have enough money left over to hire the very best attorney. Accordingly, the bail companies that Mr. Bruno works with will offer deep and significant discounts, not available to those who just go with the public defender, for bail on retained cases. In addition, if the client has retained Mr. Bruno ahead of time, payment plans can often be worked out where the bail is paid as a percentage, the client is immediately released from jail, and then has obligations to pay the bail company according to the terms of the agreement reached with the family.

Second, take another moment to think. The decision to bail someone out is often made before that person ever goes to court. It is the court's role, upon first appearance, to examine the bail amount and whether or not that amount is appropriate. Sometimes, if one can just manage to stay in jail for one more night, a judge would make a determination releasing the individual on his own recognizance "O.R. Release" and any money that would have been spent on bail can now be spent alternatively on the defensive of the case or saved altogether. There is nothing more confounding than seeing someone pay all that money to a bail company and then showing up in court and asking for the public defender to represent them. It is the decision-making economic equivalent of buying a Ferrari while renting a studio apartment. If you are going to spend money on the case, spend it in a way that is most helpful to actually winning the case.

Bail is an expensive, important, and oftentimes confusing issue to deal with. You should deal with this issue by contacting Mr. Bruno. Mr. Bruno will counsel you on whether or not bail is appropriate and, assuming that it is, Mr. Bruno's guidance will save you thousands in selecting the proper bail agent and posting the necessary sum.

Mr. Bruno is available to answer all bail related questions. Call him BEFORE contacting a bail bondsman. Contact Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney Keith J. Bruno as your first move and he will help you get out fast and without unnecessary expense. We offer a free face-to-face consultation and can work out a payment plan in most situations. We serve people living in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

The Newport Beach, Orange County, California, Law Offices of Keith J. Bruno represents Californians who have been charged on, arrested for, or accused of criminal offenses in Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, and San Bernardino.