best bail bonds hesperia ca | Apple Valley Bail Bonds

Published August 9, 2018

You Won’t Believe the Truth From Behind the Bars

Prisons in general seem to have a reputation, but California prisons seem to have some of the worst. However, like most hot topics, people aren’t always completely informed about the problem. People question the integrity of the jail and prison systems. Understanding the prison system in California is the first step in figuring out how to go about possibly fixing any issues.

Most prisoners in California are U.S. citizens. According to the Public Policy of California (PPIC) 81% of prisoners are U.S. citizens, and only 19% are foreign nationalities. 5% of the 19% are from Mexico. This shows that criminals don’t all come from our neighboring countries. This statistic shows that as Americans, we tend to have problems with following the laws of the land.

California’s prison population is big but it’s not the worst. California’s prison population in 2006 was 163,000 inmates. Ten years later the total prison population in California as of 2016 has increased to 1,505,400 according the Bureau of Justice Department. However, this places California 18th in the nation with some of the lowest incarceration rates. It’s expected to see a decrease in prison population as laws continue to change in California.

The incarceration statistics continue to be startling. The age of prisoners is growing as well. Meaning there are more, older prisoners (50 or older) in prison. Not only are they getting older, they’re needing more help medically. In 2016, 30% of prisoners required mental health services. They’re older and are repeat offenders, meaning that they are leaving prison and then being recommitted for more crimes. No one is ever really leaving the system.

California prison statistics aren’t common knowledge. Most people don’t think to look at the stats in regards to prisons because it doesn’t typically affect their lives. Looking at the facts is important for a person to understand what is going on in the world. By having the facts, a person will be able to make informed and educated decisions that could go on to make the world a better place.

Published August 7, 2018

The Truth about Underage Drinking

It’s almost time for school to begin, which means summer vacations are over and families across the state are heading back home for the new school year. The start of a new school year also marks the reunification of friends after a summer spent apart. If you’re the parent of a teenager, then chances are you know that when teenagers get around one another, rules can be broken.

As Friday night high school football games begin and the weather cools off, teenagers across the state will begin looking for ways to entertain themselves on the weekends. For some, this could mean bowling, going to the movies, or working out. For others, it could be house parties. Without jumping to conclusions or stereotyping, many times, teenagers use house parties as a means to illegally consume alcohol.

As a parent, it is your job to guide your children into making smart and responsible decisions. In California, consuming alcohol under the age of 21 is illegal. Such as many other states around the country, California has very strict and specific laws in place that prohibit anyone under the age of 21 from consuming or being in possession of alcohol.

Read below to learn more about these general underage drinking laws.

• It is illegal for a minor to be in possession of alcohol in a public space. If convicted, a person may face a fine of $250 and be required to complete community service.
• The state of California has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to underage drinking and driving. If an underage driver is caught with a blood-alcohol level of .01 or higher, they will be charged with a violation of California’s zero-tolerance policy. As consequence, they could be fined and lose their driving privileges for a year or more.
• In addition to the law mentioned above, an underage driver will be charged with a DUI if they are driving or operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of .05 or higher.

The items mentioned above are just a few examples of California’s underage drinking laws. However, there are also laws regarding contributing to the delinquency of a minor. As a parent or a person in general, you could be charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor if you are caught providing underage children alcohol. A minor can also be charged with this if they are caught providing alcohol to someone underage.

When it comes to underage drinking, just don’t. As a parent, it is never too early to begin having open conversations with your child about the consequences of consuming alcohol illegally. We want to ensure your children are equipped with the knowledge and power to make the right decisions.

Published July 19, 2018

Don’t Be Carefree This Summer

It is summertime in California, which means singing along to your favorite tunes and hanging out with friends. All year long you’ve been waiting to let go, go on vacation, and bring out your favorite summer playlist. You’ve got your swimsuit on, and the car packed for the beach. You’re all set, right? Wrong. You’ve forgotten to think about your safety, and the safety of those around you.

Even though you want to be carefree this summer, you still need to take the necessary steps to be safe. Before heading out anywhere alone, notify a family member, or close friend of your plans. It may seem ridiculous, but if something were to happen to you while you were alone, no one would know. Notifying someone of your plans allows them to know where you are, and to worry about you if they don’t hear back from you at some point. Traveling alone this summer can be a freeing experience, but can turn into a criminal mystery real quick if no one knows you plans.

If you’re traveling with friends this summer, talk about your plans. If you all plan on spending the night before drinking the night away, it’s best to set up an alternative way home, instead of driving yourselves. Knowing ahead of time that you plan on taking a taxi home will help eliminate the drama of last minute changes of plans. It also gives your group of friends the peace of mind of who is the designated driver. Most importantly, it doesn’t allow any drunk driving to occur.

Summer is all about exploring, but don’t surround yourself with strangers. Going to a party alone with strangers is a recipe for disaster. Party settings are usually full of drinking, smoking, and people making bad decisions. Don’t let yourself be in that kind of situation. Bringing a friend that you know to a party will bring you some peace of mind. If things don’t go well at the party, you’ll have a familiar face that you know you can count on.

Summer is the best time to cut loose and be a little crazy. However, you still need to be safe, and accountable for your actions. You can still have a carefree summer, just take a few small steps to remain safe. These small steps could make the difference between life and death. That may seem too serious for the summertime, but situations can turn deadly if no one took the necessary precautionary steps.

Published July 17, 2018

How Many Guns Did He Have?

California has some of the strictest guns laws within the United States. While this is frustrating for some, it is meant to help keep people safe. There are many people out there who should not own a gun or any other sort of weapon. That is why people are now required to pass a background check before purchasing a gun.

Unfortunately, despite all of these laws, guns still fall into the wrong hands. Take for instance a southern California resident who was recently arrested for own too many guns. Manuel Fernandez, a 60-year-old Agua Dulce resident, was recently arrested for having over 500 different guns in his home. That is a ridiculously large number of weapons. The only people who need that many guns are army suppliers and video game characters with comically large backpacks.

Aside from owning far too many weapons, the man was also a convicted felon. In case you weren’t aware, it is illegal in California for a felon to own any firearms. This makes the insane crime even worse. Fernandez was arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for illegally possessing an assault rifle.

This is a perfect example of why some people should not be allowed to purchase firearms. This is why many of the California gun laws exist. However, this does bring up the question of how did this man acquire so many weapons? After all, over 500 is an absurd amount of guns for a single person.

Published July 16, 2018

Do You Know about These Firework Laws in California?

Whenever anyone mentions the Fourth of July, you can bet that everyone’s first thought is fireworks. These colorful little explosives go hand in hand with the holiday.in fact, this is so true that you can’t buy most fireworks in California unless the holiday is just around the corner. While this may be inconvenient for some people, this is actually required by law within the state of California.

California has several laws regarding fireworks. Firstly, fireworks are divided into two categories within the state, they can either be “Dangerous” or “Safe and Sane” fireworks. Dangerous fireworks are what are seen at professional firework displays. Only people with special display licenses are allowed to set off dangerous fireworks within the state of California.

One of the most prominent laws regarding safe and sane fireworks, is that they can only be sold from noon on June 28th to noon on July 6th. Anyone can set off safe and sane fireworks, provided they are allowed to within their city or district. The problem there being that many places have banned people from setting off safe and sane fireworks on their own.

The restrictions set on fireworks are largely done to try and prevent any fires from starting. As most Californians know, wildfires are pretty common out here, which is why fireworks are banned in rural areas where a stray spark could set something ablaze. Due to their high fire risk, all safe and sane fireworks have to be approved by the State Fire Marshall.

The Fourth of July and fireworks are a lot of fun, however it is important to remember that fireworks can be dangerous when handled improperly. That is why, sometimes it is best to simply go to a professional show. Doing that will give you a much bigger show. No matter what you decide, just be sure to have a fun and safe Independence Day.

Published July 4, 2018

What Is the Fourth Amendment?

Here in the United States, we are granted a lot of rights and freedoms thanks to the US Constitution. Many of the most basic rights we have come from the Bill of Rights, which is the first ten amendments of the Constitution. One of the many important amendments there is the Fourth Amendment.

The Fourth Amendment prevents unreasonable search and seizures of a person’s property. The official wording is as follows:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

What this means, is that law enforcement officials cannot search or take a citizen’s belongings unless they have reasonable suspicion that criminal activity has or will take place, or have a warrant. This also states that the officers can only search and seize things that are listed on the warrant they presented.

This simple law protects a person from having their house searched, and belongings taken without reasonable cause. Reasonable cause means that officers cannot simply search a person because they feel like it. Instead they need to find proof and provide enough evidence that warrants their need to search the house.

The Fourth Amendment is one of many laws within the US Constitution that helps protect everyday citizens from government officials abusing their powers. This is why the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights is so important. They give us our rights and freedoms, and help keep the government from abusing its power.

Published July 2, 2018

Park Here, Not There

The summer season is upon us, which can only mean one thing – an influx of traffic stemming from tourists, family vacations, and gorgeous weather. As you and your family embark on summertime adventures, we want to help ensure your trips are memorable for all the right reasons, and not because of parking violations that result in unwanted fines or tickets.

As you drive around town looking for the perfect, shady, parking spot keep these laws in mind regarding parking at colored curbs.

• White– Stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers or mail.
• Green– Park for a limited time. Look for a posted sign next to the green zone for time limits, or locate the time limit painted on the curb.
• Yellow– Stop no longer than the time posted to load or unload passengers or freight.
• Red– No stopping, standing, or parking. (Buses may stop at a red zone marked for buses.)
• Blue– Parking is permitted only for a disabled person or driver of a disabled person who displays a placard or special license plate for disabled persons or disabled veterans.
• Note: Placard abuse results in the loss of special parking privileges. It is also a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment in county jail for up to 6 months, or both.

Just when you think you’ve found the perfect spot; make sure it doesn’t fall into one the items below. Here are a few helpful reminders as to where it is illegal to park at any time.*

• Where a “No Parking” sign is posted.
• On a marked or unmarked crosswalk, sidewalk, partially blocking a sidewalk, or in front of a driveway.
• Within 3 feet of a sidewalk ramp for disabled persons or in front of or
on a curb that provides wheelchair access to a sidewalk.
• Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or a fire station driveway.
• On or within 7½ feet of a railroad track.
• At a red curb.

If it has been a while since you took a driving course, check out the California Driver Handbook. The handbook covers everything you and your family need to know year-round to help ensure you are following proper driving laws, practices and policies.

Make this summer one to remember, stay safe and follow all posted and not posted traffics laws.

*This is not a comprehensive list. Please visit www.dmv.ca.gov for a comprehensive list of places that it is illegal to park in California.

Published June 28, 2018

Parole v. Probation

There are many terms out there that most people mix up. Often times, these terms are closely related and describe similar, yet different, things. The terms are often used so closely together that people begin to assume they mean the same thing. A good example of this would the difference between parole and probation.

Just about everyone knows that these two terms have something to do with getting out of jail. However, that is usually the extent of most people’s knowledge on the matter. This is due to the fact that they would rather not spend time learning about terms they will likely never need to know about. Unfortunately for some, jail has a way of sneaking up on them. This makes it important to know the difference between these two terms.

Probation is often a replacement for a jail or prison sentence. A person is given probation by their case judge, and they have set of rules or conditions that they have to follow which vary from case to case. If they fail to follow those, then they will be taken into custody. However, if they follow all of the rules, then they can finish their sentence without ever setting foot in jail or prison.

Parole deals with a person who was recently released from prison. When a person is released from prison, they are not immediately free. They have to go through a sort of trial period, which is what parole is. The person has to prove they are rehabilitated by meeting certain conditions while out on their own. The person is assigned a parole officer that they have to meet with on a regular basis.

It is easy to see that while these two terms are similar, they are also very different. Probation is a way to stay out of jail or prison, while parole is what happens after a person is released from prison. Both, however, do require the person to be on their best behavior, or else they may end up behind bars.

Published June 21, 2018

Jail isn’t the Love Shack

Relationships are hard to handle. They are complicated puzzles that take time, work, and communication. In today’s world, they also require attention or a presence on social media, making the overall relationship harder. Then life happens and balancing a relationship feels impossible, especially if your significant other lands themselves in jail.

Having a relationship with someone while they are in jail is not easy. Between accepting that they are in jail and why they’re in in jail, it makes any relationship shake. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been married for several years, or together for two, having a significant other in jail is not easy. One of the reasons why it is so difficult on the relationship is the lack of communication. While your significant other is incarcerated, you won’t be able to communicate in the same way.

Unfortunately, while your loved one is in jail or prison, they won’t have access their cell phone and will have limited access to phones in general. When they are able to make phone calls, you will have to pay a hefty price to talk with them. The cost of phone calls will make having conversations with your loved one extra difficult. Your next form of communication will be through letters. Letters are a slower way to communicate and you’ll have to pay for stamps as well.

You may also be able to have visitation time with your loved one. Conjugal visits can happen, but they are considered a privilege. They are also often limited and only approved if you are married. If you can’t get a conjugal visit, you may be able to visit them on selected days. Some prisons allow monthly or weekly visitors for certain hours of the day.

Besides the difficult methods of communication, you’ll also have to deal with the stigma. No one ever aspires to fall in love with a prisoner. There aren’t any fairytales or happily-ever-after stories that involve visiting a loved one in jail. Your family and friends may have opposing opinions about your relationship. Their opinions can add tension and stress to your relationship. The best way to avoid this frustrating situation is by calling a bail bonds company to bail your loved one out of jail for the remainder of their trial. That way you can bypass the lack of communication.

Published June 7, 2018

Facts about California Prisons

California has received criticism over its judicial practices recently. People question the integrity of the system, especially of the jail and prison systems. However, like most hot topics, people aren’t always informed completely about the problem.

Conducting the proper research on any topic is necessary to be truly educated in the subject. If someone isn’t educated on the topic that they are trying to argue, they won’t get far in changing people’s opinions. Understanding the prison system in California is the first step in understanding how to go about possibly changing it if needs to be.

California’s prison population is big, but it’s not the worst. California’s prison population in 2006 was 163,000 inmates. Ten years later the total prison population increased to 1,505,400 according the Bureau of Justice Department. However, this places California 18th in the nation with some of the lowest incarceration rates. It’s expected to see decrease in prison population as laws change in California.

Most prisoners are U.S. citizens. According to the Public Policy of California (PPIC) 81% of prisoners are U.S. citizens, and only 19% are foreign nationalities. 5% of that 19% are from Mexico. Showing that criminals don’t all come from our neighboring countries. This statistic seems to show that as Americans, we have problems with following the law.

Another surprising statistic is that the age of prisoners is growing. Meaning there are more prisoners 50 or older. In addition, they are also multiple offenders meaning that they are leaving prison and then being recommitted. Not only are they getting older, they’re needing more help medically. In 2016, 30% of prisoners required mental health services.

The truth about prisons in California is shocking to most. Most people don’t think to look at the statistic in regard to prisons. This is why it’s important to do your research and understand what is going on in the world around you. Don’t let the truth shock you, let it educate you.