What a licensed agent may do
- Post a surety bond guaranteeing the bail amount at the facility holding the defendant.
- Charge the premium at the surety's filed rate and set the payment structure.
- Require an indemnitor and take collateral described in the written agreement.
- Require the defendant to keep in contact and appear at every hearing.
- Surrender the defendant on the bond under Penal Code §1300, which ends the surety's liability.
What a licensed agent may not do
- Solicit bail business inside a jail, courthouse, or station lobby, or arrange for jail personnel to steer referrals — prohibited under Penal Code §1290 and Insurance Code rules.
- Wear a badge or uniform or otherwise imply peace officer status.
- Enter a residence by force without an occupant's consent.
- Charge above or rebate below the surety's filed rate.
- Give legal advice about the criminal case — that is defense counsel's role.
Recovery agents are a separate license
Bail fugitive recovery is governed by Penal Code §1299 et seq., with its own training, documentation, and advance-notice requirements. Read bounty hunters in California and are bounty hunters legal in Los Angeles.