Once arrested the arresting agency (cops) will charge the accused with a crime or crimes. Each charge carries a certain bail amount. Most cops charge the highest and most serious charges in order to impose the highest bail. You must know that the District Attorney is the agency that does the final and real filing of charges, the cops merely prepare a report and suggest which crimes the accused has committed. The DA then reviews the report and charges the crimes the DA feels are appropriate. The thing with bail is the discrepency between what the cops charge and with what the DA charges. For example: Someone arrested for possession of methamphetamine will be charged by the cops with Felony possession, transportation and maybe even sales, even though there is scant evidence the person was transporting or selling the drugs. These three felony charges will greatly increase the bail. Now, the accused is stuck with an extremely high and unfair bail until he goes to court and the DA files the appropriate charges and the accused has a chance to be heard regarding bail. The problem lies in the time it takes from the initial arrest to the court hearing. It may take up to 4 days for the person to go to court, meanwhile the person is in jail with a high bail. What I do is this. Once retained to represent the individual I contact the arresting agency (cops) and negotiate an appropriate bail reduction saving the person not only money, but time in jail. Sometimes you can negotiate a release with no bail. The other scenario is when the person is arrested and immediately goes to court (that same day). Once retained to represent the accused, I will vigorously argue for a release without bail (commonly known as an OR release, or Own Recognizance release) or/and a reduction in bail. Once the reduction is obtained, I will consult you on the fastest way to get your loved one out of police custody and back at home. An accused is ALWAYS better off fighting his case out of custody than when he/she is in custody, ALWAYS. I as your attorney will make it my first priority to get my client out of jail and ready to fight his/her case.
Law Offices of Edgar B. Diaz
668 South Sunset Blvd.
West Covina, California 91790
Ph: (626) 926-1616
Fax: (626) 813-1087
Edgar Diaz Law Offices provides criminal defense counsel and representation to clients in West Covina, California (CA), and surrounding communities in the San Gabriel Valley, including Pomona, Pasadena, Corona, El Monte, Baldwin Park, Upland, Chino, Chino Hills, Glendora, Covina, Azusa, La Puente, Monrovia, Los Angeles, San Dimas, Claremont, Montclair, La Verne, Walnut, Duarte and Irwindale, California. I practice primarily in Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County and Orange County.
