Santa Monica Bail Bonds & Payment Plans

The jail in Santa Monica or the Sheriff's Department in Santa Monica provides information on bail. The County Clerk's office in Santa Monica provides information on bail, trial, hearings, and more.

Bail is money paid to the courts to ensure that an arrested person who is released from jail in Santa Monica will appear or show up at all required court appearances/hearings.

You may post bail for yourself, have someone over 18 years old post it on your behalf or use a bail bondsman. Whoever posts bail for you at the jail in Santa Monica assumes full responsibility for your appearance in court. If you fail to appear as required at court, a warrant will be issued for your immediate arrest and the bail will be forfeited to the court in Santa Monica. Bail bondsman or bail agents are not available in Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oregon, the District of Columbia, and Wisconsin.

When the bail is set, bail can be paid online from any computer, phone, or tablet. Contact the jail in Santa Monica or the local Sheriff's Department. The online payment system can be used to pay bails of any amount.

Bail may be posted in any of the five ways:
1. Cash Bail - A percentage may be posted for cash bonds. All bonds that are set may be posted with a cash deposit of ten percent (10%). However, the person posting cash bail is liable for the full amount. If you appear for trial or the charges are disposed of before trial, the amount posted will be refunded. If you do not appear, all cash posted will be forfeited and the full amount of bail becomes due.
2. Property Bail - Property (e.g. land or home) may be used to post bail at a jail in Santa Monica, provided that the net equity in the property meets or exceeds the amount of bail.
When posting property, you need to present tax bills, assessment notices, copies of a recorded deed or other public records.
3. Intangible Assets - Intangible assets may be accepted. Contact the County Clerk's Office in Santa Monica.
4. Credit and Debit Cards - Bail may be charged on certain credit and debit cards. Although a clerk accepts the card, an independent company processes the charge. The charge includes the amount of the bail and a service fee. (These charges will appear on your next credit or debit card statement.) The card and personal identification must be produced in person at the time of posting bail. (Contact a clerk for information on cards accepted and the fees charged.)
5. Professional Bail Bondsman - A bail bondsman charges a nonrefundable fee to post bail. In addition to the fee, the bondsman may require collateral security or property to secure your release. Collateral will be returned to the person who posted it after disposition of the charges. The service fee and collateral received must be displayed on the bail bond form. Make certain that the information is correct on the form, that you receive a receipt and that you understand the action the bondsman may take if you fail to meet your obligations.
Bail Bondsman or Bail Agents are not available in Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oregon, the District of Columbia, and Wisconsin. (Contact the Santa Monica jail for information on bail.)