Domestic Violence Bail and Protective Orders: What Families Should Know

Higher bail and holding periods

Domestic violence charges frequently carry higher scheduled bail than comparable offenses, and California law can require a holding period before release in certain domestic violence arrests. Release timing must account for that period.

Emergency protective orders

An officer can request an emergency protective order at the time of arrest, and the court can issue a criminal protective order at arraignment. These orders commonly bar contact with the protected person and can require the defendant to stay away from a shared home, even when the protected person wants contact.

Violating a protective order is a separate criminal offense and can lead to a new arrest and a revoked bond. If the release plan involves a shared residence, arrange a different address before posting.

Planning the release

Have a place for the defendant to stay, a way to retrieve essential belongings without violating an order, and a clear understanding of the first court date. Our agents talk families through these logistics before the bond is posted.

Confidentiality

These cases are painful and private. We handle every call discreetly and never discuss a case with anyone outside the people authorized on the paperwork.