First-degree robbery bail in California typically falls in the $75,000 to $100,000 range, while second-degree robbery commonly runs $35,000 to $50,000, based on local felony bail schedules. Cash payment, a licensed bail bond, or occasionally release on your own recognizance are the fastest paths to release. A PC 1275 hold can pause that process if a judge questions where the bail money came from.
TL;DR:
- Check the superior court schedule for the arrest county: amounts change by county and year, and firearm enhancements can raise the listed figure.
- A judge must consider ability to pay, but serious or violent felony charges may keep the scheduled amount in place until an open court hearing.
- A property bond usually takes longer because the court must verify real estate value and clear title, while own recognizance release is decided at arraignment.
- If a judge orders a 1275 hold, release pauses until the payer proves legitimate funds at a hearing; gather bank and loan records immediately.
Table of Contents
- What county bail schedules show for robbery and why amounts vary by county
- How judges set bail: schedules, individualized review, and legal limits
- Practical options to secure release now
- What a 1275 hold means and how to respond if one is placed
- Costs, timelines, and delays families should expect
- What families get wrong about robbery bail in California
- How we help with robbery bail across California
- FAQ
- Sources
What county bail schedules show for robbery and why amounts vary by county
California counties publish felony and misdemeanor bail schedules, and robbery amounts differ from one courthouse to the next. These figures may apply before arraignment, before a judge has reviewed the case individually.
- First-degree robbery often lists around $75,000 to $100,000, reflecting the more serious classification under Penal Code §212.5, which covers robbery of an inhabited dwelling, public transit, or an ATM.
- Second-degree robbery, covering other robbery scenarios, commonly lands between $35,000 and $50,000 on many county schedules.
- Enhancements, such as use of a firearm, can push the scheduled amount higher in counties like Marin, which lists specific add-ons for aggravating factors.
- Some counties, including Santa Clara, publish detailed tables with separate line items for robbery degrees and note which charges are nonbailable locally.
Because these numbers shift by county and by year, check the current schedule published by the superior court where the arrest happened rather than relying on a number you saw for a different county. San Luis Obispo County, for example, lists first-degree robbery at $100,000 and second-degree at $50,000 in its most recent schedule, which sits at the higher end of what you might find elsewhere.
How judges set bail: schedules, individualized review, and legal limits
A bail schedule is a starting point, not a final word. Once a judge or magistrate reviews the case, state law requires a closer look at the individual circumstances.
- The schedule may provide a starting point before arraignment, giving jail staff a number to work with after booking.
- California Supreme Court guidance now requires judges to weigh a defendant's ability to pay before setting bail, rather than detaining someone purely because the scheduled amount is out of reach.
- Recent court and county memoranda describe how counties including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Riverside have adjusted pre-arraignment practices to build in individualized review and procedural safeguards.
- For certain serious and violent felonies, Penal Code §1270.1 requires the scheduled amount to stand until a hearing happens in open court, even when a judge might otherwise consider a lower figure.
Robbery charges can fall into that category depending on the specifics of the case, which is part of why the exact amount a family faces can differ from the printed schedule. Our guide to who sets bail in California walks through the roles magistrates and judges play at each stage.
Practical options to secure release now
Families usually have four realistic paths to get someone out of jail on a robbery charge, each with its own tradeoffs.
- Cash bail: You or a family member pays the full scheduled amount directly to the jail or court, and the money is returned (minus fees) once the case resolves, assuming the defendant appears at every hearing.
- Licensed bail bond: A surety agent posts the full bail amount on your behalf for a fee, in a transaction the California Department of Insurance regulates as a filed-rate surety product, not a negotiable side deal.
- Property bond: You pledge real estate equity as collateral instead of cash, a process that usually takes longer because the court has to verify the property's value and clear title.
- Release on own recognizance (O.R.): A judge releases the defendant without bail based on ties to the community and flight risk, a decision made at arraignment rather than at booking.
Before calling anyone, gather the booking number, the jail's location, a valid photo ID, proof of your relationship to the defendant, and a payment method. Our explainer on how bail bonds work in California breaks down the paperwork an agent will ask for.
Pro Tip: Call the jail's booking desk directly to confirm the exact bail amount before you commit to a payment method, since schedules can be updated and enhancements can change the final figure.
What a 1275 hold means and how to respond if one is placed
A 1275 hold is a pause on release that a judge can order under Penal Code §1275.1 when there is probable cause to suspect the bail money came from criminal activity. A 1275 hold may arise when there is probable cause to believe the bail money came from criminal activity.
- The hold requires whoever is posting bail to prove the funds come from a legitimate source at a court hearing before release can proceed.
- The person seeking release must show that the funds came from legitimate sources at a hearing.
- At the hearing, the person seeking release must show that the funds came from legitimate sources.
- Start gathering bank records and loan paperwork immediately, and contact a bail agent and an attorney as soon as you learn a hold has been placed, since delays compound while documentation is assembled.
Costs, timelines, and delays families should expect
Bail bond premiums in California are set through a filed-rate system that the California Department of Insurance oversees, so agents charge according to approved rate schedules rather than negotiating case by case.
- Processing time varies with the paperwork, any holds, and other case-specific factors.
- A 1275 hold, an inter-county transfer, or missing documents can delay the process.
- Under the bail chapter of the Penal Code, bail is not formally exonerated until 15 days after a case is dismissed, and a surety generally has 180 days to locate a defendant who fails to appear before forfeiture becomes final.
- A county felony bail schedule for first-degree robbery can list a $100,000 presumptive amount, which shows why having documents and a payment plan ready before you call matters as much as the charge itself.
Having a booking number, valid ID, and relationship proof ready when you call an agent removes the most common cause of delay: paperwork gaps discovered mid-process. If a 1275 hold is likely, ask about the hearing timeline right away rather than waiting for the court to schedule it on its own.
What families get wrong about robbery bail in California
Most people assume the number on the county schedule is fixed, and that assumption causes more stress than the charge itself often warrants. The schedule is a ceiling for the pre-arraignment moment, not a prediction of what a judge will ultimately require once ability-to-pay review and individualized factors come into play under the Kowalczyk line of cases.
The bigger mistake is waiting to gather documentation until after a 1275 hold is already in place. Bank statements, loan paperwork, and proof of relationship take time to assemble, and the hold doesn't pause for convenience. Having paperwork ready may help families navigate the process, though timing depends on the case and the county. Understanding the distinction between grand theft and robbery charges can also matter for how a case unfolds; this breakdown of theft classifications is a useful starting point if you're trying to understand what your family member is actually facing.
— william
How we help with robbery bail across California
We answer calls personally so a family member can reach a licensed agent after a robbery arrest in California.
- Emergency bail assistance with a licensed agent who walks you through the paperwork.
- Bail and surety bonds for robbery charges across California.
- No-interest payment plans so the premium doesn't become a second emergency on top of the first.
- Free inmate and warrant search to confirm booking details before you commit to a payment method.
- 1275 hold consultations to help you understand what documentation a hearing will require.
- Bilingual Spanish service and coordination with your attorney when one is already involved.
Have the booking number, jail location, and your ID ready when you call, and we'll help you with the filing process. Visit Abaasy Bail Bonds to start the release process now, or find your county's contact details on our San Bernardino location page if that's where your case is.
This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer. Consult a qualified legal professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.
FAQ
How much is a $1,000 bail bond?
A bail bond premium depends on the surety's filed rate and the amount of bail set. Ask your agent how the premium applies to your case. Exact premiums depend on the filed rate schedule the surety insurer uses, so ask your agent for the specific figure tied to your case.
What happens if you are charged with robbery?
You'll be booked, and bail will typically be set according to the county's felony schedule, with first-degree robbery usually carrying a higher amount than second-degree. From there, you can post bail through cash, a bond, or property, or wait for a judge to review the case at arraignment.
What are the bail laws in California?
California uses county bail schedules as a starting point, but courts must also consider a defendant's ability to pay rather than relying on the schedule alone. Bail bonds themselves are regulated as surety products through the California Department of Insurance, with rates filed and approved in advance.
Can you go back to jail after getting bailed out for the same crime?
Yes, if you violate the conditions of release, fail to appear in court, or are arrested on new related conduct, a judge can revoke bail and order you back into custody. If bail is forfeited because of a missed court date, the surety may have time to locate and surrender you under the applicable procedures. See the California statute.
Sources
- California Code, PEN 212.5.
- Law
- Staff Memorandum 2026-09 — Bail, Pretrial Release, and Related Matters