There is no single bail amount for assault in California. Each county sets its own schedule, and the number depends on the exact charge: simple assault is often in the low thousands, while assault with a deadly weapon or on a police officer can be several times higher. If you post through a bail bond, you typically pay a nonrefundable premium of about 10% of the bail, so a $5,000 bail usually means $500 up front. Below we explain how the amount gets set, what it looks like in San Diego and Riverside, how it can change, and what your family should do in the first hours.
TL;DR
- Before a first court appearance, bail is the warrant amount or the county schedule amount. After the appearance, the judge fixes it.
- San Diego County's 2026 schedule lists simple assault at $1,000 and assault on a law enforcement officer or firefighter at $10,000. Riverside lists misdemeanor assault with a non-firearm deadly weapon at $5,000.
- A bail bond premium is a percentage of the bail, typically 10%, and it is not refunded if the charges are dropped.
- Judges can raise or lower bail at arraignment, and some people are released on their own recognizance without paying anything.
- Call a licensed agent as soon as you have the booking name and county. We answer 24/7.
Table of Contents
- How assault bail is set in California
- Typical assault bail amounts: San Diego and Riverside
- What a bail bond costs for an assault charge
- Other ways out: release on your own recognizance
- Can assault bail be lowered?
- What your family should do in the first hours
- Our perspective: what we see with assault arrests
- Getting your loved one out with Abaasy
- FAQ
- Sources
How assault bail is set in California
California law requires the superior court judges in each county to revise a uniform bail schedule every year, covering bailable felonies, misdemeanors and most infractions. Penal Code 1269b says that before the person appears in court, bail is the amount on a warrant or, if there is no warrant, the amount in the county schedule. After the first appearance, the judge sets it.
That is why two people arrested for similar fights in different counties can see different numbers. It is also why the number you hear at the jail desk right after booking may not be the number that stands a day later.
A retired judge's overview describes this as a two-stage process: schedules or warrants drive the first stage, and the court's broader, case-specific discretion drives the second. The ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties notes that the pre-arraignment amount is typically based only on the original charges, and a judge may raise or lower it at arraignment.
What "assault" means for bail purposes
In California, assault generally means an attempt to commit a violent injury on someone with the present ability to do it. No contact is required. Battery is the actual unlawful touching. Arrests often involve both, and many bail schedules list them as separate lines.
The charge on the booking sheet matters more than the label families use. These are the usual categories:
- Simple assault: a misdemeanor, listed at the lowest amounts on county schedules.
- Assault with a deadly weapon (non-firearm): under Penal Code 245(a)(1), it can be punished as a felony with two, three or four years in state prison, or as a county jail offense of up to a year, with a fine up to $10,000. That range is why schedules treat it as much more serious.
- Assault on a peace officer or firefighter: carries its own, higher line on the schedule.
- Assault with a firearm or causing great bodily injury: the top of the assault range, often with enhancements added.
If you are not sure which one applies, ask the jail for the specific charge and penal code section. Our agents can read the booking record with you and tell you what it means for the amount.
Typical assault bail amounts: San Diego and Riverside
County schedules are published, and the numbers below come directly from them. They are the pre-arraignment starting points, not guarantees of what will happen after a judge reviews the case.
| Charge | San Diego County (2026 schedule) | Riverside County (schedule effective Oct. 20, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Simple assault, victim not a law enforcement officer | $1,000 | Check the schedule for the current category |
| Assault on a law enforcement officer or firefighter | $10,000 | Check the schedule for the current category |
| Misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon (non-firearm) | See the schedule | $5,000 |
The San Diego Superior Court's 2026 bail schedule, effective January 1, 2026, lists simple assault on a person who is not a law enforcement officer at $1,000, and assault on an officer or firefighter at $10,000. The Riverside Superior Court's schedule sorts offenses into categories: Cite and Release, Book and Release, Pre-Arraignment Review and Arraignment Review. It lists misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm at $5,000.
Those categories matter. In Riverside, a charge marked for review may not have a fixed dollar amount waiting at the jail. A person might be held until a reviewer or judge decides. If your loved one is in Riverside, our guide to the Riverside jail release process explains the steps and timing.
Stacking: why the total can be higher than one line
San Diego's schedule allows amounts to be added together, or "stacked," when offenses involve separate victims or happened on separate dates. It prohibits stacking in specific situations, such as an indivisible transaction. So an arrest involving two alleged victims can produce a bail figure well above the single-charge number. If the total looks wrong to you, tell the defense attorney, because the booking charges may not be the ones the prosecutor files.
What pushes the number up
- A weapon, or an allegation of serious injury
- A victim who is a police officer, firefighter or other protected person
- Prior convictions or an existing warrant
- Several charges or several alleged victims
- A protective order or a violation of one. See our article on bail after a restraining order violation.
For comparison, we cover another offense type in our guide to robbery bail and 1275 holds. A 1275 hold can also come up in assault cases when the court wants to look at the source of bail money.
What a bail bond costs for an assault charge
A bail bond lets you pay a fraction of the bail instead of the whole amount. The fee is called the premium. According to the ACLU's arrest guide, it is a percentage of the total bail and is nonrefundable, even if the charges are later dismissed or the person is released on their own recognizance.
In practice, the premium is typically 10% of the bail. Here is what that looks like at the figures above:
| Bail amount | Typical 10% premium |
|---|---|
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $25,000 | $2,500 |
These are arithmetic examples of the typical rate, not a quote. We publish no fixed price list because the figure depends on the bail set in your case. What we do commit to is clear, upfront pricing with no hidden fees, explained before anyone signs. For a longer breakdown, read how much a bail bond costs in California.
Cash bail versus a bond
Paying the full bail in cash is the other route. Cash bail is generally returned by the court when the case ends and the person has made every appearance, minus any fines or fees the court applies. Riverside's criminal division says refunds are processed automatically after an order is issued, typically in six to eight weeks. If you have the full amount and can wait for it, cash may make sense. If not, a bond keeps your savings available for a lawyer. The premium you pay on a bond is the cost of that convenience. There are a few narrow situations where it can come back, covered in our piece on getting a bond premium back.
Other ways out: release on your own recognizance
Bail is not the only door. After an arrest, the ACLU guide lists three options: release on one's own recognizance, posting the full cash bail, or using a bail bond. Own recognizance (OR) release costs nothing, but a judge decides it at arraignment, weighing factors such as community ties and public safety.
Los Angeles County has gone further. Its pre-arraignment release protocols, effective October 1, 2023, move most non-violent, non-serious offenses toward non-financial conditions instead of preset dollar amounts. Assault allegations involving violence or serious injury are the type most likely to stay outside that approach, so don't count on it for a weapon or injury case.
We compare the two paths in OR release versus bail for California families.
Can assault bail be lowered?
Yes, it can. The California Legislature's Committee on Revision of the Penal Code reports that the state constitution and statutes require judges to consider public safety, victim safety, the seriousness of the offense, the person's record and the likelihood of returning to court. The same memo says the California Supreme Court has held that liberty is the norm before trial, and that cash bail should matter only when non-financial conditions can't ensure public safety and court appearance. It also notes growing court scrutiny of pre-arraignment cash bail schedules.
For your family, that turns into a practical list:
- Go to the arraignment. The ACLU guide says families can show community ties by attending and by giving relevant information to the public defender.
- Gather proof of ties. Employment letters, lease, school or caregiving duties, and family in the area.
- Ask the defense lawyer about a bail review. The lawyer can argue for a lower amount or for OR release, particularly for a first arrest with no weapon.
- Be honest about the facts. If a protective order or a prior case exists, the judge will find it.
The same factors can push bail the other way. A judge who sees a serious injury or a risk to a victim can set it above the schedule.
What your family should do in the first hours
- Confirm the booking. Get the full legal name, date of birth and county. Our free inmate and warrant search helps you find the booking number and the charges.
- Get the charge and bail amount. Ask for the penal code section. A lone "assault" label isn't enough.
- Decide on cash, bond or waiting for arraignment. If the amount is small and the person may be released on OR at arraignment, waiting may be reasonable. If the person needs to get home to work or kids, a bond is faster.
- Call an agent. We will explain what the premium is, what you sign and what the person must do after release.
- Plan for court. A missed court date can forfeit the bond, so write down every date.
For the general sequence, see who sets bail after an arrest in California. A similar situation appears in our guide to resisting arrest bail, which is often charged with assault.
Our perspective: what we see with assault arrests
We talk with families after assault arrests every week, and the same pattern repeats. The call comes late at night, the family has heard one number from the jail, and they are afraid it will be out of reach. Often the charge is lower than they feared, or the amount can change at arraignment. Other times a weapon or an officer victim pushes the figure up and the family needs a plan.
What we tell everyone is the same. Get the exact charge first. Don't pay anyone until you understand what is nonrefundable. Ask about payment terms before you sign, not after. Our no-interest payment plans exist because most families don't have the premium sitting in an account, and our agents answer every call themselves, never a call center, so you can ask these questions of a licensed person at 3 a.m. We also speak Spanish, because panic is hard enough in your first language.
We work with defense attorneys too. A lawyer who knows the court can often tell you whether a bail review is worth waiting for, and that can save a family real money.
— william
Getting your loved one out with Abaasy
If you have the booking information and want to move now, Abaasy Bail Bonds offers 24/7 emergency bail and bail and surety bonds for misdemeanor and felony charges across California, including San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. We offer free inmate and warrant searches, bilingual Spanish support, no-interest payment plans and guidance on 1275 holds.
Call any time. We will tell you the premium before you sign, and you will know what happens after release.
FAQ
How much is bail for assault in California?
It depends on the county and the charge. San Diego County's 2026 schedule lists simple assault at $1,000 and assault on an officer or firefighter at $10,000. Riverside lists misdemeanor assault with a non-firearm deadly weapon at $5,000. A judge can change the amount at arraignment.
How much does a $25,000 bail bond cost in California?
At the typical 10% premium, a $25,000 bail would cost about $2,500. That fee is nonrefundable. Your agent should confirm the exact amount and any payment plan terms before you sign.
Do you get the bail bond fee back if charges are dropped?
Generally no. The premium is a nonrefundable fee for the bond, even if charges are dismissed or the person is released on their own recognizance. Cash bail posted directly with the court is different, since the court refunds it after the case ends, subject to fees and fines.
Can you be released without paying bail for an assault?
Sometimes. A judge can release a person on their own recognizance at arraignment, based on community ties and public safety. Some counties, including Los Angeles, release most non-violent, non-serious arrestees under non-financial conditions. Violent or serious allegations are less likely to qualify.
Can a family member post bail for someone arrested for assault?
Yes. A family member or friend can sign the bond agreement and pay the premium. They become responsible for making sure the person attends every court date, so it is worth choosing someone who can stay in contact with them.
Sources
- California Penal Code 1269b
- Pretrial Law and Procedure: an Overview (Judicial Council of California)
- What Happens: arrest guide (ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties)
- California Penal Code 245 (FindLaw)
- San Diego Superior Court 2026 Bail Schedule
- Riverside Superior Court Felony and Misdemeanor Bail Schedule
- Riverside Superior Court, Criminal Division
- Los Angeles Superior Court Pre-Arraignment Release Protocols FAQ
- Staff Memorandum 2026-09, Bail, Pretrial Release (Committee on Revision of the Penal Code)