Matthew J. Ruff Criminal Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Bail is a right in most states.  In California bail is allowed for all crimes except capital murder.  Bail is accomplished by posting a bond with the Court that has jurisdiction over the particular case.  The bail bond is usually obtained by using a bail bond agency that will charge a fee, usually ten percent of the amount of the bond.  This fee is called a premium and will be non-refundable even if the case is later dismissed.  Other ways to post bond can be by paying the amount in full to the clerk of the Court, this is called a cash bond.  Before bail can be reduced it must be set.

The amount of bail is set by the law makers and is usually cotained in a book called a bail schedule.  The amount can go up or down depending on various factors.  To get bail lowered or reduced usually requires the help of a local and experienced criminal defense lawyer who proceed to criminal court and file the necessary motions requesting a reduction in bail and release of the client forthwith.  The most important considerations when asking for a bail reduction are as follows:  The flight risk of the criminal defendant, the seriousness of the offense and the issue of whether the individual poses a danger to the community if released.

Assuming the person arrested has a good job, family in the area, has lived in the community a substantial amount of time and has minimal if any criminal record, the Judge should lower bail or release the person on a signed promise, sometimes called a release on own recognizance.  Again, an attorney will be necessary in most cases to get the best Bail Reduction . 

Preparation is the key when going into Court, have character letters from people that know the defendant, establish a good work history thru pay stubs and show the ties to the community by bringing in utility bills or property tax records.