How Long Does It Take to Get a Bond?

Posted on Feb 9th, 2026 by Bail Agent 16 Views

After your arrest, understanding how long does it take to get a bond helps you gauge the urgency of the criminal case and the need to act fast. Generally, the sooner you post bail, the quicker your release process. Understanding the time can also alleviate the uncertainty and stress that come with being in detention. Finally, it can help you prepare financially.

Booking process

Once an arrest occurs, the booking procedure and how long does it take to get a bond may take an hour or several hours based on the following:

The local police departments' booking processes
The jail’s workload
The number of officers assigned to handle bookings

At the end of the booking procedure, you can remain in jail or be released on your own recognizance or on bail after posting the money outlined in the bail schedule.

Here are the booking steps:

Recording of your personal information— The police will record your name, contact details, address, and the alleged charges.
Taking mugshots and fingerprints —The mugshots capture your distinct physical features, including race, eye color, and height. The mugshots can also help police determine your physical condition during booking.
To safeguard other inmates and jail staff, you may also undergo a health inspection procedure that consists of X-ray imaging to ensure you have no tuberculosis, blood tests, and drawing of DNA samples.
Jail officials could perform a complete body search to make sure you are not hiding anything. The procedure requires you to remove all clothing. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that strip searches are not a violation of your civil entitlements, even if arrested for an infraction.
At this time, other officers will be reviewing whether you have an active warrant.
Taking your clothing and personal effects—Jail officials might take your clothes and personal items and provide an inmate uniform. Anything you hand over should be returned to you upon your release, unless it is contraband or proof of a crime.

Bail Setting

No matter your place or county of arrest, judges in California set the bail amount within 48 hours of the arrest during the arraignment (not counting holidays and weekends). Arraignment is the initial court hearing after the arrest. If the police release you before the 48-hour mark, the arraignment might occur weeks or months later.

If you fail to post bail or the judge denies it, you will remain in jail until your trial.

Bail Bond Application Process

If you cannot raise bail, enlist a bail bondsman to assist you in posting the bail amount and accelerate how long does it take to get a bond and secure your release from custody. Most bail bondsmen are available around the clock.

When applying for a bail bond, you must complete the necessary forms that ask about your personal details. The application documentation helps the bail bondsman to assess the risk of accepting responsibility for posting surety bonds.

Some of the personal information you should provide:

Personal references — The references include the name and contact information of individuals you are well familiar with and can easily access.
Credit score — You should agree to a credit screening and provide your bank details and Social Security number.
Your co-signer's name and contact details.
Collateral—Sometimes the bail bondsman may require collateral, especially if the defendant’s bail amount is enormous. Collateral can be real estate, a car, or other valuable items.

After the bail bondsman posts the surety bonds, your release should happen within a couple of hours. How long does it take to get a bond and secure your release depends on numerous factors, including how busy the jail is that day, the number of available personnel, and your line in the queue.

Accelerating How long Does It Take to Get a Bond

You can secure a release faster by doing the following:

Calling a Relative

Following your arrest, you should contact a relative or friend to notify them of your arrest. Tell them the nature of your charges, when the police arrested you, where you are held or detained, and your booking number.

That can help them find you more quickly and take the necessary steps, such as consulting a lawyer and calling a bail bondsman.

Note that for minor infractions that carry small fines, a loved one or friend can post your bail amount more quickly.

Call a Defense Lawyer

A lawyer can help you schedule your bail hearing and convince the court to grant you a fair bail amount. Your attorney’s understanding of the criminal legal system allows them to connect you to a reliable bail bondsman, making it easier and faster to secure pretrial release.

Gather Relevant Information

To expedite how long does it take to get a bond, you should have the following information before calling your bail bondsman:

Identifying information—The bail bondsman will require basic identifying details about the suspect. While most bail bondsmen ask for the defendant's full legal name, if the personhas at least one name, you should provide those details as well. You should give the name of the holding jurisdiction, its county, and its location. Providing the defendant's booking number is helpful. However, if you do not have it, the company can find it.
Know the alleged criminal charges —Notify the bail bonds firm of the criminal charges your loved one is facing. If you have specific information, such as whether the charges are a felony or misdemeanor, it can help the bail bondsman expedite the process and determine how long does it take to get a bond.
Know what you shall provide as collateral.
Know the bail amount—The bail bondsman will charge a 10 percent service fee on the total bail amount. Some bail bondsmen also charge processing, administrative, and travel fees. Knowing how much you need, we will help prepare you financially.

Find a Qualified Bail Bondsman Near Me

Knowing how long does it take to get a bond and the factors that can influence the timeline can help you take proactive steps to secure your pretrial release. It can also keep you prepared and informed. The California-based bail bondsmen at Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds can help you understand the process so that you can navigate it effectively. We can also help you expedite your release process. Please call us at 844-400-2245 to schedule your free consultation.