Bail Bond for Attempted Murder (PC 664/187)
If you or a loved one find yourselves in a difficult situation, we understand the urgency and stress that comes with it. At Angels Bail Bonds, we specialize in providing the support and assistance needed to secure bail for attempted murder charges.
Learn the basics about the bail process for an attempted murder charge, and then contact Angels Bail Bonds today. Let us be your trusted partner in navigating the bail process for attempted murder charges. We are here to help you regain your freedom and prepare for your legal journey.
Navigating the legal system when facing a charge as severe as attempted murder is a daunting task. It’s crucial to be aware that attempted murder charges often come with aggravating circumstances that can escalate the severity of the case. These could include intent to commit murder or cause serious bodily injury. Depending on the jurisdiction and the specifics of the case, a person convicted of attempted murder may even face the death penalty. Therefore, securing bail becomes an even more pressing issue. At Angels Bail Bonds, we have the expertise to guide you through this complex process, giving you the best chance to defend yourself effectively in court.
What Is Bail?
Bail in California refers to the amount of money or property that a defendant or their surety (a person that is responsible for the defendant’s appearance in court) must deposit with the court in order to secure the defendant’s release from custody while awaiting trial.
The purpose of bail is to ensure that the defendant appears in court for all scheduled hearings and does not flee before the trial. Bail amounts are determined by a bail schedule or table, but a judge can deviate from the schedule based on various factors, including the severity of the offense, the defendant’s criminal history, and if the defendant is a flight risk. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail is forfeited, and a warrant may be issued for their arrest.
What Are Bail Bonds?
When you find yourself in a situation where you can’t afford to pay for your bail, bail bonds might be the solution for you. A bail bondsman, who is employed by a bail bond company, will charge you a fee in exchange for providing the payment. Bail bond companies in California charge only 10% of the total bail amount to post-bond for a defendant. So, if the bail amount is $20,000, the bondsman will charge $2,000 instead of the full amount. While this may still seem like a lot of money, it’s much more affordable than paying the entire bail amount, especially on extremely high bail amounts for some serious felonies.
Those rates can be as high as 20% for some immigration and federal charges because these rates are set by law, and all bail companies must charge the same amount. Despite the costs, using a bail bondsman can be a lifesaver for those who cannot afford to be released from custody on bail.
Remember, the concept of bail is founded on the principle that an accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, whether they’re being accused of infraction offenses or felonies.
What Happens At A Bail Hearing?
The amount of bail is normally set at the person’s initial court appearance, often known as the arraignment stage or pre-trial detention. A judge can either release a person on their own recognizance (OR) with a promise to appear in court at a later date or deny their OR and impose bail.
If the charges are infraction offenses or even some misdemeanor offenses—such as a DUI with no accident injuries or significant property damage— the person will usually be released without bail after being arrested. More serious felony charges, like assault with a deadly weapon, will not have OR as an option and will only be released from custody on bail.
You must pay the bail amount or post a bail bond on the bail schedule. An arresting officer might ask for a higher bail amount than what the bail schedule suggests.
What Factors Influence a Defendant’s Bail Amount?
The bail bond process starts when a defendant is in front of a judge to determine bail. Then several factors are put into play, including the severity of the crime, criminal history, whether the defendant is a flight risk, community ties, financial resources, their potential danger to public safety, and even mental health are considered when determining bail amount.
The bail schedule further gives guidance for all criminal charges, with the judge having some leeway in the specific amounts, as mentioned. And even if they’re allowed out on bail, the defendant might have to be placed under house arrest, be prohibited from owning any deadly weapons or placed under electronic monitoring.
Have You Been Charged With Criminal Attempted Murder PC 664/187?
If you’ve been charged with a criminal offense like attempted murder, you or a loved one must contact the experts at Angels Bail Bonds immediately. Our team of bail bondsmen and criminal defense lawyers provide assistance during pre-trial detention at no extra cost, including nationwide.
What is Attempted Murder?
According to the California Penal Code, PC 664 and 187, attempted murder is defined as the intentional and unlawful act of trying to kill another person. It involves a specific intent to cause the victim’s death, along with a direct but unsuccessful step toward that goal. The attempt can be made through various means, such as poisoning, shooting, running over with a motor vehicle, stabbing, or strangling. The punishment for attempted murder in California can include life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, among other penalties.
PC 187 defines murder as “the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought,” although California has exceptions that do not apply to all cases of death of a fetus.
PC 664 deals with establishing the punishments for attempted crimes, including murder, and it states that “if the crime attempted is willful, deliberate, and premeditated murder, as defined in Section 189, the person guilty of that attempt shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life with the possibility of parole.”
The penal code also establishes that the crime of murder and attempted murder will be punished differently if the crime is committed upon a “peace officer, firefighter, custodial officer, custody assistant, or non-sworn uniformed employee of a sheriff’s department engaged in the performance of his or her duties.”
The direct step or action is more than just planning to murder someone. You have to put the plan in motion, and if the murder is unsuccessful, either because the victim survived through medical intervention or the action was ineffective or prevented, then the felony charges change to attempted murder.
Types of Attempted Murder Charges in California
A defendant will receive felony charges only in the case of murder or attempted murder. There are two degrees of attempted murder.
First-degree attempted murder
Attempted murder of the first degree is taking direct and premeditated action against another person, or fetus, with the intent of killing, not just harming, that person.
Second-degree attempted murder
Attempted murder of the second degree is a felony charge applied in cases where the murder was not premeditated and deliberate, even if there was direct action and intent to kill at the moment.
The lack of planning a murder beforehand does not mean the case is involuntary manslaughter or voluntary manslaughter, where the death occurred, but the circumstances make it clear there was no planning involved, or it was justified, as in self-defense.
Penalties in Attempted Murder Cases
The California Penal Code classifies attempted murder as a serious offense, and the penalties vary depending on whether it’s charged as a felony in the first-degree or second-degree.
Attempted first-degree murder is punished by life in state prison with the possibility of parole, while second-degree attempted murder is punishable by five, seven, or nine years in state prison.
The sentence will also be life in prison with the possibility of parole if the attempted murder victim was intended to be a peace officer, firefighter, custodial officer, or other law enforcement officer of the state of California.
Average Bail for Attempted Murder (PC 664/187)
Attempted murder and murder are the two most serious crimes in the California Penal Code and on the bail schedule, with the initial bail set at $1,000,000 to no bail at all.
You Need An Experienced Bail Bond Agent That Specializes In Attempted Murder Defense
The bail bond process for an attempted murder charge is not easy without expert help at your side, as the standard bail for attempted murder is $1,000,000 to no bail. Nonetheless, a bail bond company and a criminal defense attorney can aid you during this difficult time and help you and your loved one obtain that bail money.
Free Consultation & Case Review
Do you know someone who has been arrested for murder? Look no further because we are here to help. At Angel Bail Bonds, we work with experienced bail bondsmen and criminal defense attorneys to be your best option, even in cases where you need bail for murder or attempted murder. We offer flexible payment plans and affordable rates to make the bail process more manageable for you and your loved ones. If you have any questions about how bail laws and the bail bond process works in California or if you need assistance helping a loved one, don’t hesitate to call us today.
