The bail amount comes from the issuing county
A warrant carries its own bail figure, set by the court that issued it against that county's schedule. Being arrested in San Diego on a Los Angeles warrant does not convert the amount to San Diego's schedule. If there are charges in both counties, expect two amounts and two bonds.
Endorsed for bail, or not
- A warrant endorsed with a bail amount can normally be posted on directly.
- A no-bail warrant cannot be bonded until a judge sets an amount — that means a court appearance first.
- Bench warrants for failure to appear are often endorsed at a higher amount than the original bail. See failure to appear bail bonds.
- Probation and parole violation warrants are frequently no-bail. A bond will not move them.
Where the bond gets posted
This is where a local agent earns the fee. Depending on the counties involved and how the warrant is written, the bond may be filed at the facility holding the person, at the issuing county's court or jail, or through a surety with licensed agents in both. Armstrong writes in both Los Angeles and San Diego counties, which removes the handoff between two agencies.
Clearing a warrant before an arrest
If you know a warrant exists and no one has been arrested yet, you have options that disappear after a traffic stop: counsel can calendar a walk-in appearance to recall the warrant, or a bond can be posted in advance so the appearance does not end in custody. Our warrant bail bonds page explains the process, and missed court bail bonds covers the FTA version.