Bail Bond reduction and adovcacy
Advocacy Before the Bond
A family contacted 2 Trees Bail Bonds after their loved one was arrested in Ventura County and bail was set at an overwhelming $1,000,000.
They had already hired a highly respected criminal defense attorney and were doing everything they could to help their loved one.
They had also contacted another bail bond company.
That company quoted them $60,000 to handle the $1 million bond.
The family was looking at different ways to come up with the money, but before making such a significant financial commitment, they called 2 Trees Bail Bonds and asked us a simple question:
“Can you beat their price?”
Our answer probably wasn’t what they expected.
We told them we couldn’t compete with the $60,000 quote.
But we might be able to help them in a different way.
Before Worrying About the Price, Let’s Look at the Bail
Instead of immediately trying to sell the family a bail bond, we suggested they speak with their attorney about requesting a bail reduction hearing.
A $1 million bail amount is substantial. Before this family committed tens of thousands of dollars toward a bail bond, we believed it was worth taking a closer look at whether that amount was appropriate based on the allegations and the applicable bail schedule.
The family listened.
They spoke with their attorney, and a bail reduction hearing was requested.
When the day of the hearing arrived, Jason from 2 Trees Bail Bonds went to court and sat with the family.
There was no contract waiting for them.
No pressure.
No sales tactics.
No judgment.
We were simply there to support the family, listen to what was happening in court, and help where we could.
The Judge Reduced Bail From $1 Million to $340,000
After hearing the arguments, the court reduced the bail substantially.
$1,000,000 → $340,000
This was already a significant reduction.
The family was pleased and was prepared to move forward with a $340,000 bail bond through 2 Trees Bail Bonds.
For us, this could have been the end of the story.
The family wanted the bond.
We could write the bond.
But something didn’t look right.
We Took Another Look at the Ventura County Bail Schedule
After listening to the testimony and reviewing the allegations, Jason took a closer look at the Ventura County Superior Court Bail Schedule.
Bail calculations involving multiple charges can become complicated.
Generally, multiple allegations arising from the same event do not necessarily mean that every scheduled base bail amount is simply added together. Different rules can apply depending on the allegations, including circumstances involving separate dates, multiple victims, enhancements, prior convictions, probation or parole status, and other factors.
Every case is different, and ultimately the court determines the appropriate bail.
But based on our review of the allegations and the applicable schedule in this case, we believed the $340,000 bail amount still deserved another look.
One of the underlying scheduled amounts appeared to be approximately $50,000, before considering any legally applicable enhancements or other adjustments.
The family was ready to proceed with the $340,000 bond.
Jason told them:
“Don’t post the bond yet. Let’s make sure this is right.”
That wasn’t necessarily the best decision for us financially.
It was the decision we believed was best for the family.
Sometimes the Right Bail Bond Is the One You Don’t Post Yet
Think about that for a moment.
A family was standing in front of us prepared to move forward with a $340,000 bail bond.
We could have simply written it.
Instead, we encouraged them to speak with their attorney again.
Their attorney agreed to bring the bail issue back before the court.
So we waited.
No pressure.
No attempt to convince the family to post the $340,000 before the next hearing.
We would rather lose a bond than have a family spend money unnecessarily when there is a legitimate reason to have the bail amount reviewed.
The Family Chose 2 Trees Bail Bonds
The family was extremely pleased with the outcome and ultimately chose 2 Trees Bail Bonds to post the $100,000 bail bond.
We were grateful for their business.
But writing the bond isn’t what we’re most proud of about this story.
We’re proud of what happened before we ever wrote it.
When this family first called, we didn’t look at the potential size of the bond and start calculating what we could make.
We looked at the family’s situation.
When the bail dropped to $340,000, we didn’t immediately rush them into signing paperwork.
We looked at the situation again.
And when we believed something deserved further review, we said something.
Only after the court determined the final bail amount did we worry about the terms of the bond.
The Family Chose 2 Trees Bail Bonds
The family was extremely pleased with the outcome and ultimately chose 2 Trees Bail Bonds to post the $100,000 bail bond.
We were grateful for their business.
But writing the bond isn’t what we’re most proud of about this story.
We’re proud of what happened before we ever wrote it.
When this family first called, we didn’t look at the potential size of the bond and start calculating what we could make.
We looked at the family’s situation.
When the bail dropped to $340,000, we didn’t immediately rush them into signing paperwork.
We looked at the situation again.
And when we believed something deserved further review, we said something.
Only after the court determined the final bail amount did we worry about the terms of the bond.
Advocacy Before Money
We are a bail bond company.
Posting bail is what we do.
But we believe being a good bail agent requires more than simply showing up with a bond.
Families often call us during one of the most stressful and confusing moments of their lives. Many have never dealt with an arrest, a jail, a bail schedule, or the criminal court system before.
They shouldn’t feel like they’re walking into a sales office.
They should feel like someone is willing to listen.
Sometimes helping means posting a bond as quickly as possible.
Sometimes it means explaining the process.
Sometimes it means sitting beside a family in court.
Sometimes it means working alongside their defense attorney.
And sometimes it means telling a family:
“Don’t give us your money yet.”
That’s the kind of bail bond company we want to be.
What Is a Bail Reduction Hearing?
A bail reduction hearing gives the defense an opportunity to ask the court to reconsider the amount of bail.
The attorney may present information and arguments about the allegations, applicable bail schedule, defendant’s circumstances, community ties, criminal history, public-safety considerations, ability to appear in court, and other legally relevant factors.
A bail bondsman does not replace a criminal defense attorney and cannot provide legal advice.
But an experienced bail agent can still be an important part of the conversation.
We’ve dealt with bail schedules, jails, courts, bonds, and families facing high bail amounts for years. If something doesn’t look right, we’re willing to raise the question so the client can discuss it with their attorney.
The attorney advocates in court.
The judge makes the decision.
Our job is to help our client understand the bail process and make an informed decision before committing to a bond.
Should You Post a Very Large Bail Bond Immediately?
Every situation is different.
Sometimes posting bail quickly is absolutely the right decision.
Other times, particularly when bail is unusually high and the defendant already has an attorney, it may be worth asking the attorney whether seeking a bail review or reduction is appropriate before paying a substantial bail bond premium.
There is no guarantee that a judge will reduce bail.
In some cases, bail could remain unchanged or other issues could affect release.
That’s why these decisions should be made with the defendant’s attorney based on the specific facts of the case.
But asking the question can matter.
For this family, it certainly did.
A Different Kind of Bail Bond Company
This family originally called us because they wanted to know whether we could beat another company’s $60,000 quote.
Instead of competing over the price of a $1 million bond, we helped them focus on a more important question:
Does this really need to be a $1 million bond?
That question ultimately changed everything.
$1,000,000 became $340,000.
$340,000 became $100,000.
And only then did 2 Trees Bail Bonds post the bond.
That’s what we mean when we say:
We Don’t Just Post Bail. We Advocate.
If your loved one is facing an unusually high bail amount in Ventura County, you don’t have to make a major financial decision without understanding what’s happening.
Speak with your criminal defense attorney about your legal options. And when you’re ready to discuss the bail bond side of the process, 2 Trees Bail Bonds is here to help you understand your options without pressure or judgment.
Real people. Real help. Real advocacy.
Be at ease, call 2 Trees.
This article describes a past client experience for general informational purposes. Every criminal case and bail determination is different. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. 2 Trees Bail Bonds and its bail agents are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice.
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