Felony Bail Bonds in California

By Jane Un, licensed bail agent #1843448. Updated October 29, 2026.

A felony arrest is frightening, and the bail number is often large. Families want to know why it is so high, whether it can change, what a bond costs and what happens next. This guide answers those questions in plain words, using California statutes and court sources.

We keep it practical. Felony cases move in stages, and the bail side of the case can change at each stage. Knowing the stages helps you ask better questions and avoid costly mistakes.

What makes a charge a felony

California divides crimes into infractions, misdemeanors and felonies. A felony can bring state prison, or county jail for more than a year in some cases. Some crimes are wobblers, which means the prosecutor or judge can treat them as either a felony or a misdemeanor. For bail purposes the charge on the complaint at the time of arrest matters, and it can change later.

Do not guess about the charge. Ask the jail, the court clerk or the lawyer for the exact code section and whether it is charged as a felony. Our guide on finding someone in jail in Los Angeles shows how to look up a booking.

How felony bail is set

Penal Code section 1269b requires the superior court judges in each county to adopt, and revise each year, a uniform countywide bail schedule for bailable felonies. When adopting the felony schedule the judges must consider the seriousness of the offense. The statute tells them to add bail for each aggravating or enhancing factor chargeable in the complaint, such as certain weapon, great bodily injury, repeat offender and large quantity drug allegations.

So the bail on a felony can grow as allegations are added. A base charge may have one number. The same charge with a weapon allegation may have a larger one. Our shorter guide on how much bail is in California explains the schedule, and the Los Angeles Superior Court posts its current felony bail schedule on its website. We do not publish dollar amounts from third party sites, because schedules are revised each year and the court's own version controls.

After the person appears before a judge on the charge, the bail is whatever that judge fixed. Under Penal Code section 1275, the judge must weigh public safety first, then the seriousness of the offense, the defendant's record and the likelihood the person will appear. Our guide on bail reduction hearings explains how to ask for a change, including the effect of In re Humphrey on ability to pay.

Felonies that need a hearing first

Some felonies do not allow release on a changed amount, or on own recognizance, until a judge holds a hearing. Penal Code section 1270.1 covers serious and violent felonies and several listed domestic violence, stalking, threat and witness intimidation offenses. The prosecutor and the defense lawyer get two court days notice. See the 1270.1 hearing for serious felonies.

Penal Code section 1275(c) adds another rule. To reduce bail below the schedule for a serious or violent felony, the judge must find unusual circumstances and put the facts on the record.

Los Angeles County also has pre arraignment release protocols. As reported when they took effect in October 2023, people arrested for most misdemeanors and non serious, non violent felonies are generally released without money bail before arraignment, while certain serious and violent offenses are not eligible. Check the court's current version, because the policy can change. Our guide on Los Angeles pre arraignment release explains it, and it is one reason a bond is not always needed right away.

What the first court dates look like

The California Courts Self Help Center explains the felony timeline. At arraignment the judge tells the person the charges and rights, the person enters a plea, and the judge decides on release, bail or no bail. For a felony, the preliminary hearing must be held within 10 court days of the arraignment or plea, or within 60 days if delayed for good cause or if time is waived, according to that source. Ask your lawyer before waiving time.

Read our guide on what happens at arraignment in Los Angeles. If the person cannot afford a lawyer, the court appoints one at no cost. Free legal help is in our resources directory.

What a felony bond costs

A bond costs a premium, which is a percentage of the bail. On a large felony bail the premium is also large, so the payment plan matters. {{PREMIUM}}

Large bonds usually need more than a signature. Many felony bonds need collateral, such as a car title, equity in a home or another asset, and a co-signer with steady income and good credit. We say this early because it is not fair to make a family wait for a surprise. California rules also limit what a bail licensee may charge to the premium, collateral and listed actual, necessary and reasonable expenses.

If the person in custody is pregnant, ask about our free bail program for qualifying pregnant women. Premium is waived for qualifying applicants who are 8 months or more along, with bail of $50,000 or less, a non-violent charge and a working co-signer with proof of income. It is subject to approval. If you do not qualify, ask anyway, because we are often able to help.

The co-signer's promise

The co-signer, also called the indemnitor, is promising to make sure the person comes to every court date and to answer for the bond if they do not. That promise lasts until the bond is exonerated, which can take months or years in a felony case. Read co-signer responsibilities in California before you sign.

Good questions to ask a co-signer and ourselves.

• Can the co-signer reach the defendant every week.
• Does the co-signer have a plan for rides and reminders.
• What collateral is pledged and how will it be released.
• What happens if the defendant moves or loses a phone.

Missed court on a felony

Felony failure to appear carries extra risk. Under Penal Code section 1320.5, a person charged with or convicted of a felony who is released on bail and willfully fails to appear to evade the court is guilty of a felony. Willful failure to appear within 14 days of the date may be found to be for that purpose. Separately, section 1305 forfeits the bond and starts a 180 day clock. Read bail forfeiture under PC 1305, bond reinstatement and the shorter missed court date guide. Call us the same day if a date is missed.

Source of funds, conditions and holds

Felony bail sometimes triggers questions about where money came from. Penal Code section 1275.1 allows a hold when there is probable cause to believe the bail money was feloniously obtained. If cash is part of the plan, gather records first. See the guide on the source of funds hearing. A bond often means a smaller sum to trace.

Felony release often comes with conditions. A judge may impose a stay away order, a no contact order, drug screening, GPS or travel limits. Breaking one can lead to higher bail or a return to custody. See bail conditions in California.

Before you call a bail agent

A few facts speed everything up. Write them on paper so you are not hunting for them at 2 AM.

1. The full legal name and date of birth of the person in custody.
2. The jail or station where the person is held, and the booking number if you have it.
3. The charge, in words or as a code section, and the bail amount if the jail gave one.
4. Whether a lawyer is already involved. A private lawyer can affect the premium rate, as explained in our pricing section.
5. Who the co-signer will be, where that person works and whether they can send a pay stub and ID.
6. What can be pledged as collateral, if the bail is large. A car title or home equity are common choices.

If you are missing some of these, call anyway. We will help you find the rest.

Some common mistakes cost time or money on felony cases, and they are easy to avoid.

• Paying a bail agent who says the bail cannot go down. A judge can change bail, and a lawyer can ask.
• Waiting for the first hearing without checking if a bond is useful sooner. Sometimes waiting saves money and sometimes it does not. Ask.
• Signing as co-signer for someone you do not trust to show up.
• Giving the person's phone number as the only contact. Give two other numbers for the agent to reach.
• Forgetting that a hold from another agency can keep a person in custody even after bail is posted.
• Skipping the written statement of the bail transaction. Ask for it and keep it.

Felony cases are long. A good plan on day one is worth more than a rushed one.

Working with us

Jane Un started Bail Today, Pay Later in 2004 after her own experience with the system, and she is often in court at arraignment to support families. On a felony call we ask a few questions first. The name, the jail, the charge and the bail amount if you know it. We then explain the premium, the down payment, the collateral and the co-signer in writing. No games. {{CALL}}

We are bail agents, not lawyers, and this page is general information and not legal advice. For advice about a specific case, speak with your lawyer or the public defender. Free help is listed in our resources directory.