Most Common California Crimes & their Bail Amounts
Penalties for common crimes in California include bail, an amount set by a magistrate at the time of arrest or an official bail set during an arraignment hearing. California Superior Court Judges post standard bail amounts, which are increased at the discretion of the magistrate upon request by law enforcement officers based on the facts of the specific crime. The prisoner is released with a criminal charge and a court date after bail is paid.
Bail
Bail is money deposited to guarantee the prisoner’s appearance in criminal court on a later date. Bail bonding companies charge the defendant a nonrefundable fraction of the bail and deposit the full amount.
Misdemeanors
Misdemeanors typically require low bail payments which may be paid in cash or by use of a bail bond. Misdemeanors include violation of a domestic violence restraining order, but bail may be increased to protect family members from further domestic violence.
Restraining Order Violations
Restraining order violations are usually $15,000 with an additional amount designed to protect children or elderly seniors. Bail for restraining order violations includes $20,000 for stalking, $100,000 for stalking in violation of an active temporary restraining order, and $150,000 for stalking with prior convictions.
DUI
Bail for DUI ranges from $2,500 to $100,000 depending on the severity of the crime.
Charges for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs from while driving a commercial vehicle to drive under the influence of bodily injury. Bail for inflicting bodily harm while driving under the influence is $100,000. The bail for vehicular homicide while intoxicated is $100,000. Bail for all other murders, aggravated mayhem, and kidnapping for ransom is $1,000,000. The rationale is the alcoholic lacked the intent to commit murder. Vehicular homicide is presumed accidental.
Drug Possession
Selling drugs to young children is $50,000 bail. Bail amounts for drug possession in Orange County, California, vary from $25,000 to $100,000 depending on the quantity of controlled substances in the prisoner’s possession. Selling drugs to a minor is a $50,000 fine. Bringing a controlled substance into jail is $25,000. Bail for possession of crack or cocaine is $30,000 to $500,000.
Possession of controlled substances with the intent to sell them is: $25,000 for a small quantity, $50,000 for half a pound, $100,000 for a pound, $500,000 for 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds,$2,000,000 for 10 kilograms or 22 pounds, $3,000,000 for 40 kilograms or 88 pounds, and $5,000,000 for 80 kilograms.
Theft/Burglary
Petty theft is $20,000 bail. Residential burglary is $50,000 bail. Grand theft is $20,000 bail or the value of the stolen car or goods whichever is greater. Stealing a car or first-degree robbery is $100,000 bail. Secondary degree robbery is $50,000 bail. Bail for embezzlement is $20,000, but abuse of an elder through theft or embezzlement is $10,000 bail. Shoplifting requires bail in the amount of the stolen goods in addition to the $20,000 or $50,000 bail for theft.
Assault Charges
Assault charges may be either felony or misdemeanor. Bail amounts for assault range from $10,000 to $1,000,000 for assault with an attempt to rape or burglarize. Assaulting a spouse is $10,000 bail. Assault with a rifle or handgun is a $50,000 to $100,000 bail. Battery against a police officer is $2,500 bail to $100,000 bail. Any type of elder abuse is $50,000 bail. Penalties for theft/burglary or shoplifting is the value of the stolen goods plus $20,000 bail.
Weapons Charges
Penalties for common crimes in California including bail protect citizens from further victimization. Carrying a concealed weapon without a permit or possession of a loaded gun costs $20,000 bail. Weapons charges range from shooting from a motor vehicle at $250,000 bail to exploding a bomb with or without the intent to kill at $1,000,000 bail.
Bail amounts for assault with a firearm are $50,000 to $70,000 if the assault was with an automatic weapon. Shooting at a police officer or fireman is $50,000 bail or $100,000 bail depending on the severity of the officer’s injuries. Shooting at an inhabited dwelling is $250,000 bail. Bail for weapons other than firearms, such as a crowbar, is $25,000.
