24/7 California Bail Bonds — Licensed · Insured · Fast Release
Family Owned · Since 1926 · Available 24/7
Glendale’s
Bail Bonds Company
Someone you love arrested in Southern California? Armstrong Bail Bonds has been getting families through this since 1926 — the state-regulated 10% premium, real people on the phone, and no runaround. Three generations of the Armstrong family serving Los Angeles and San Diego Counties, day and night.
Table Of Contents
Welcome to Armstrong Bail Bonds — serving Southern California families since 1926. Click any section below to jump straight to the information you need.
Why Choose Armstrong
100 years of experience, 24/7 live agents, and state-regulated pricing.
How Bail Bonds Work in California
A step-by-step look at the process from arrest to release.
Our Reviews
Real feedback from families we've helped across Southern California.
Charges We Handle
Bail bonds for DUI, drug crimes, gun charges, felonies, and more.
How Much Do Bail Bonds Cost
California's 10% premium law, payment plans, and accepted methods.
What We Need From You
The details that help us locate the defendant and move quickly.
Most Common Bail Charges
General information on bail eligibility for common charges.
Bail FAQs
Quick answers to the most common questions about bail bonds.
Why Families Choose Armstrong
Bail Bonds
Getting a call that someone you love is in jail is one of the most stressful moments a family can face. You need someone who picks up the phone, tells you the truth about cost and timing, and moves quickly — not a call center reading from a script. That's what Armstrong Bail Bonds has been doing for Southern California families since 1926.
24/7 Live Agents, Not Voicemail
Arrests happen at 2 AM as often as 2 PM. Our agents answer around the clock, every day of the year, including holidays. You will talk to a real person from the first call.
A Century Of Local Experience
We've worked directly with Southern California jails and courthouses since 1926. We know the process, the paperwork, and how to move a release along without unnecessary delay.
Honest, Legally-Set Pricing
California law sets the bail bond premium at 10% of the bond amount (Cal. Ins. Code § 1800). We charge exactly what the law allows — nothing hidden, nothing padded.
Flexible Payment Plans
Most families don't have the full premium sitting in a checking account. Ask about payment plans tailored to your situation so you can get your loved one home now.
Collateral-Light Options
Depending on the bond amount and the defendant's history, many bonds don't require property or collateral at all.
Four Generations, One Family
Armstrong Bail Bonds is still family-owned and operated by the fourth generation of the Armstrong family — not a call center routing you to a stranger.
Where We Serve
Armstrong Bail Bonds serves Los Angeles and San Diego Counties from our Glendale and San Diego offices.
How Bail Bonds
Work In California
The bail process moves fast once it starts, but it helps to know what's coming. Here's what happens after an arrest in California, step by step.
Step 1: Arrest & Booking
After an arrest, the defendant is taken to the county jail for booking — fingerprints, photo, and personal information entered into the system. Once booking is complete, bail is set according to the county bail schedule, or by a judge depending on the charge.
Step 2: Call Armstrong Bail Bonds
This is the step that saves the most time. Call us with the defendant's full name, date of birth, and the city or county where the arrest happened. If you're missing details, tell us anyway — we can often locate the record ourselves.
Step 3: We Explain Costs Upfront
Before anything is signed, we walk you through the exact premium (10% of the bond, set by California law), whether payment plans apply, and whether collateral is needed for this specific bond amount. No surprises after the fact.
Step 4: The Bond Is Posted
Once paperwork and payment arrangements are complete, our agent posts the bond directly at the jail holding the defendant.
Step 5: Release
Jail staff process the release once the bond is posted — timing varies by facility, but release often happens within a few hours. Once released, the defendant must attend every court date and follow any conditions set by the court to avoid the bond being revoked.
A Family Name Since 1926
Cecil C. Armstrong opened our doors in Glendale in 1926. Nearly a century later, the fourth generation of the Armstrong family still runs the business — same name, same standards, same commitment to treating every client with respect.
Four Generations · One Family
The Armstrong Family Line
1926Cecil C. ArmstrongFounder
1965Donald Armstrong2nd Generation
2010Bill Armstrong3rd Generation · CEO
2024Nikki Armstrong4th Generation · Co-CEO & Licensed Bail Agent
One Glendale office. Four generations of the same family answering the phone — since 1926.
Serving With Integrity & Care
We work closely with attorneys, court personnel, law enforcement agencies, and other legal professionals to make the bonding process as smooth and efficient as possible. When every minute matters, you can count on a family business that believes in second chances and values community.
- 24/7 · Los Angeles & San Diego Counties
- California-regulated 10% premium — no hidden fees
- Payment plans & collateral-light options available
Real Families, Real Results
Bail Bonds For Every Situation
We post bonds for a wide range of charges across Los Angeles and San Diego Counties, including:
Not sure if your situation qualifies? Call us — we'll tell you honestly whether we can help.
California's
10% Bail Premium
California law (Cal. Ins. Code § 1800) sets the bail bond premium at 10% of the total bail amount. This rate is fixed by the California Department of Insurance. No bail company can legally charge more — or less — for the standard premium.
Reviewed by Bill Armstrong, CEO — California Dept. of Insurance License #1214401
Cost Calculation
The chart below shows the standard 10% premium at common bail amounts. Higher bail amounts follow the same 10% rule.
How the math works
Multiply the total bail amount by 0.10. That is the non-refundable premium you pay to the bail bonds company. For example, on a $10,000 bail, the premium is $1,000.
Premium payments are non-refundable per California state law and represent the service fee for the execution of the bond.
Refund Policy
The Premium Is Non-Refundable.
Like an insurance premium, the 10% fee is the cost of the bond service and is non-refundable regardless of the case outcome.
Payment Plans
Flexible Payment Plans For Real Families.
We know most families don't have the full premium available in one lump sum. Ask about flexible monthly payment plans and financing tailored to your situation.
1% down options are available only to qualified applicants on approved credit.
Collateral
Collateral May Not Be Required.
Collateral may be requested on larger bonds, but many bonds — especially lower and mid-range amounts — don't require it at all.
What We Need When You Call
To help us move as quickly as possible and secure a fast release, it's helpful to have a few key details ready when you contact Armstrong Bail Bonds. Don't worry if you don't have everything — we can often look it up for you.
Defendant's Full Legal Name
First and last name. If you only know a first name, their date of birth helps us confirm the right record.
Date Of Birth
Prevents confusion when multiple people share the same name.
City Or County Of Arrest
Tells us which jail to check first and speeds up the search significantly.
Booking Number (If Available)
Not required, but it speeds things up if you have it.
Your Name & Phone Number
So we can keep you updated at every step.
Your Relationship To The Defendant
Family, friend, coworker — helps us know who to loop in on updates.
Most Common Bail Charges In California
Arrests happen for many reasons. Below are some of the most common charges we see across California, along with general information on bail eligibility. Every case is different — this is general information, not legal advice.
Reviewed by Bill Armstrong, CEO — California Dept. of Insurance License #1214401
Statute: California Vehicle Code §23152
Full DUI penal code breakdown →
- Average Bail: $5,000–$15,000 (higher if injury or repeat offense)
- Possible Jail Time: Misdemeanor: 48 hours to 1 year in county jail. Felony DUI (with injury): up to 4 years in state prison.
- Bail Eligible: ✅ Yes (most DUI cases are bailable)
- DUI Bail Bonds →
Statute: Penal Code §273.5 (corporal injury to spouse/cohabitant) / §243(e)(1) (domestic battery)
Full domestic violence penal code breakdown →
- Average Bail: $20,000–$50,000
- Possible Jail Time: Misdemeanor: up to 1 year county jail. Felony: up to 4 years state prison.
- Bail Eligible: ✅ Yes, often with no-contact or protective orders
- Domestic Violence Bail Bonds →
Statute: Health & Safety Code §11350 (simple possession) / §11351 (possession for sale) / §11352 (transportation/sales)
Full drug charges penal code breakdown →
- Average Bail: Possession: $10,000–$20,000. Possession for Sale/Sales: $30,000–$100,000+.
- Possible Jail Time: Misdemeanor possession: up to 1 year county jail. Felony sales/transportation: 2–9 years state prison.
- Bail Eligible: ✅ Yes (large trafficking cases may carry higher restrictions)
- Drug Charges Bail Bonds →
Statute: Penal Code §484 (petty theft) / §487 (grand theft) / §459 (burglary)
Full theft penal code breakdown →
- Average Bail: Petty/Grand Theft: $10,000–$50,000. Residential Burglary: $50,000–$100,000+.
- Possible Jail Time: Misdemeanor theft: up to 1 year county jail. Felony burglary: up to 6 years state prison.
- Bail Eligible: ✅ Yes (repeat offenses may increase bail)
- Theft & Burglary Bail Bonds →
Statute: Penal Code §240 (assault) / §242 (battery) / §245(a)(1) (assault with a deadly weapon)
Full assault & battery penal code breakdown →
- Average Bail: Simple assault/battery: $10,000–$20,000. Assault with a weapon: $50,000–$100,000.
- Possible Jail Time: Misdemeanor: up to 1 year county jail. Felony: 2–4 years state prison.
- Bail Eligible: ✅ Yes (weapons or serious injury may raise bail)
- Assault & Battery Bail Bonds →
Statute: Penal Code §1320 (misdemeanor FTA) / §1320.5 (felony FTA)
Full failure to appear penal code breakdown →
- Average Bail: $10,000–$30,000
- Possible Jail Time: Misdemeanor: up to 6 months. Felony: up to 3 years.
- Bail Eligible: ✅ Yes, though courts may set higher bail due to flight risk
- Failure to Appear Bail Bonds →
Statute: Penal Code §1203.2
- Average Bail: $20,000–$50,000 (varies by violation)
- Possible Jail Time: Up to 1 year county jail, plus additional time depending on original offense.
- Bail Eligible: ⚠️ Sometimes (judge may issue a no-bail hold)
- Probation Violation Bail Bonds →
⚠️ Important Note
Bail amounts and eligibility ultimately depend on county bail schedules, criminal history, charge severity, and judge discretion. If you're unsure whether a charge is bailable, call us — we'll walk you through it honestly.
Bail FAQs
We know families often have urgent questions when a loved one is in custody. Here are answers to the most common questions about bail bonds in California.