Robbery Bail in California: What Families Must Confirm at Booking

Family confirming a California booking amount

Robbery bail in California is first set from the county’s bail schedule, but because robbery is typically a serious or violent felony, the court often requires an open-court hearing before changing that amount. Schedule numbers vary by county, so confirm the exact booking county and Penal Code section right away. If release is the goal, be ready to weigh cash against a licensed surety bond and to document where any premium or collateral funds came from.

TL;DR:

The initial bail amount for robbery in California is based on each county’s bail schedule, which can vary significantly and must be confirmed using the current county PDF.

First-degree robbery generally has a higher presumptive bail than second-degree robbery, with enhancements such as firearm use or injuries increasing the total amount.

A court hearing is required before adjusting bail from the schedule amount for serious or violent felonies, considering factors like offense severity, defendant ties, and danger to the public.

Post-arrest, verify booking details, schedule effective date, existing holds, and consent to working with bail agents before posting bail to avoid delays or mistakes.

Bail bond costs are typically around 10% of the posted amount, with additional expenses and collateral terms that must be confirmed in writing before proceeding.

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How county bail schedules set the starting number for robbery
What robbery charges under PC 211 and PC 212.5 mean for bail
What judges weigh and when a hearing is legally required
A checklist for what to confirm in the first hours after an arrest
What a bail bond actually costs and what protections apply
Holds, enhancements, and out-of-county warrants that complicate release
What happens if bail is posted but the defendant misses court
How bail amounts can change after they are first set
How our experience shapes practical help for robbery bail cases
Practical help from Armstrong Bail Bonds when you need to post bail fast
Sources
FAQ

How county bail schedules set the starting number for robbery

A bail schedule is a published list of presumptive dollar amounts tied to specific charges, and every California county’s superior court adopts its own version. When someone is arrested, the booking amount usually comes straight from that county’s schedule rather than from a judge’s individual review. That distinction matters: the schedule figure is an administrative starting point, while a judicial bail amount is one a judge sets or changes after looking at the specific facts of the case.

Because each county’s judges adopt their own schedule, the same statute can carry very different presumptive amounts depending on where the arrest happened. Marin County’s 2026 felony bail schedule lists first-degree robbery under Penal Code 211 at $75,000 and second-degree robbery at $50,000. Other counties, including San Luis Obispo, Solano, and Sutter, publish their own PDFs with different figures, updated on their own schedules, and San Luis Obispo County’s 2026 bail schedule shows how enhancements and multiple counts can raise the presumptive figure well above the base amount.

A few things families should keep in mind when checking a schedule:

Confirm the schedule’s effective date, since counties revise these documents periodically and an outdated copy can show the wrong number.
Search for the exact statute cited on the booking sheet (for example, PC 211 or PC 212.5) rather than a generic “robbery” line item.
Check whether the schedule lists a separate add-on for firearm use, prior strikes, or multiple victims, since these often stack onto the base figure.
Treat any number you see in a general online article as a starting reference point, not the number that will actually apply to your case.

There is no such thing as a single statewide “average” robbery bail. Aggregated figures that circulate online blend dozens of county schedules and sentencing outcomes into one misleading number. The only figure that matters for a specific arrest is the one printed in that county’s current schedule, cross-checked against the actual booking charge. For a broader sense of how felony bail ranges are built across offense categories, see our overview of how much bail costs for a felony in California.

What robbery charges under PC 211 and PC 212.5 mean for bail

California Penal Code section 211 defines robbery as taking personal property from someone’s person or immediate presence, against their will, by force or fear. Penal Code section 212.5 then splits robbery into degrees, and that split changes how a county’s bail schedule treats the charge.

First-degree robbery generally covers takings from a person operating or riding in specific settings, such as a bus, taxi, or other transportation, or in an inhabited dwelling, and it carries the higher presumptive bail figure on most county schedules.
Second-degree robbery covers robberies that do not fall into the first-degree categories and typically appears on schedules with a lower presumptive figure than first-degree robbery, as reflected in Marin County’s 2026 schedule listing $75,000 for first-degree and $50,000 for second-degree offenses.
Facts like use of a firearm, infliction of great bodily injury, or entry into an occupied home are treated as enhancements, and county schedules commonly add a specific dollar amount on top of the base robbery figure when law enforcement books one of these facts alongside the charge.
The degree distinction under PC 211 and PC 212.5 also affects sentencing exposure, and courts weigh that exposure when deciding whether to keep, raise, or lower the schedule amount at a bail hearing.

Because degree classification and enhancements move the number substantially, the booking sheet’s exact statutory citation is worth confirming before anyone assumes what the bail figure should be.

What judges weigh and when a hearing is legally required

County bail schedules are meant as a starting point, not the final word, especially for robbery. California Penal Code section 1270.1 requires an open-court hearing before a person charged with a serious or violent felony, which includes most robbery charges, is released on bail in an amount different from the schedule. The statute also requires the court to state its reasons on the record if it departs from the schedule amount, and it lists the factors judges must weigh:

The seriousness of the offense charged and the likely sentence if convicted.
The defendant’s criminal record and history of appearing in prior court proceedings.
Whether the defendant poses a danger to the victim, witnesses, or the public.
The defendant’s ties to the community, including employment, family, and length of residence.
The defendant’s ability to post a given bail amount and whether alternatives short of full custody could still protect public safety.

Because PC 1270.1 requires this hearing for many robbery cases, the number listed at booking often functions as a temporary placeholder rather than the amount that actually governs release. The statute also generally requires two court days’ notice to the defense attorney before a bail hearing, giving families a narrow but real window to gather documents that support release.

Pro Tip: Bring pay stubs, a lease or utility bill, and two or three short letters from employers or family members to the hearing; judges weigh ties to the community heavily under PC 1270.1, and paperwork in hand moves faster than promises made in court.

Family organizing documents for a bail hearing

Financial declarations matter too. If a judge is deciding whether the defendant can realistically post a given amount, a documented income and asset picture carries more weight than a verbal statement of hardship. For a fuller comparison of how schedule-based numbers differ from judge-set amounts, see our guide on how bail is set.

A checklist for what to confirm in the first hours after an arrest

The first few hours after a robbery arrest are the ones where clear information saves the most time and money. Work through these steps in order:

Get the booking county, booking number, and the exact Penal Code sections listed on the arrest record, not just the word “robbery.”
Pull up that county’s current bail schedule PDF and confirm its effective date before relying on any number printed there.
Ask jail staff directly whether there is a hold: an out-of-county warrant, a probation or parole violation, or a source-of-funds flag under PC 1275.1.
Decide whether you are posting cash directly with the court or working with a licensed bail agent, since the process and paperwork differ.
If working with an agent, ask for the insurer’s filed premium rate, a written breakdown of any permitted expenses, and the collateral or cosigner terms before signing anything.
Confirm the arraignment date and whether a bail review hearing has already been scheduled, since that date determines how much time you have to prepare documentation.

Skipping the schedule check is the most common mistake families make. A number quoted over the phone or found on a general search result may not match the current county PDF, and acting on the wrong figure wastes time that could go toward preparing for a hearing. Our guide on how bail works in California walks through the booking-to-arraignment timeline in more detail, and if the schedule amount is out of reach, our page on what to do when you can’t afford bail covers the options.

What a bail bond actually costs and what protections apply

The court sets the bond amount, whether that is the schedule figure or a number a judge sets after a hearing. What a family actually pays a bail agent is different: a premium, which is a fee for the agent’s service in posting that full bond amount with the court.

According to the California Department of Insurance, bail bond premiums commonly run 10% of the bond amount, though the actual rate charged is controlled by the insurer’s filed rate, not by a flat industry standard. That means the 10% figure is common, but it is not guaranteed, and it is worth confirming with the specific agent and insurer named on the paperwork.

Beyond the premium, agents may charge for actual, necessary, and reasonable expenses tied to posting the bond, such as travel to a distant jail or notarizing documents. Premiums are generally nonrefundable once the bond is posted, even if the case resolves quickly. Before paying anything, ask:

What is the filed premium rate, and which insurance company is underwriting the bond?
Is there a written premium agreement or undertaking that spells out the total cost and any additional expenses?
What collateral or cosigner signature is required, and under what conditions is that collateral returned?
Is a payment plan available if the full premium cannot be paid upfront?
Will the agent confirm holds and the arraignment date before or after the bond is posted?

A written answer to each of these questions protects the family from surprise charges later. For a plain-language look at the mechanics from a consumer perspective, see this explanation of bail bond agent costs.

Holds, enhancements, and out-of-county warrants that complicate release

Even after a bail amount is set, several things can delay or block release. Penal Code section 1275.1 lets a court place a hold on release when there is probable cause to believe the funds or property offered as bail were feloniously obtained. Once that hold is in place, the defendant must show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the money or collateral came from a legitimate source before release can proceed. If the court takes no action within 24 hours of a properly filed declaration, the statute allows release upon posting the set bail amount.

Enhancements and priors also push presumptive amounts higher. County schedules commonly add separate dollar figures for firearm use, prior strike convictions, or multiple robbery incidents charged together, and some schedules apply a separate bail amount per incident rather than one combined figure.

Firearm enhancements and great bodily injury findings typically add additional amounts on top of the base robbery figure.
Prior strike convictions can push the presumptive bail substantially above the standard schedule number.
Multiple incidents booked together may carry separate bail amounts that add up instead of combining into one figure.
An out-of-county hold means another jurisdiction has a warrant, and local jail staff generally will not release the person until that hold is resolved or transferred, even if local bail is posted. Our page on posting bail across county lines covers how that process typically works.

What happens if bail is posted but the defendant misses court

Posting bail comes with an obligation to appear at every scheduled court date, and skipping one has immediate consequences. The court will typically issue a bench warrant for arrest, and the bail bond is forfeited, meaning the surety company (or the person who posted cash) stands to lose the full bond amount unless the defendant is located and returned to custody within the timeframe the court allows.

For a family that used a bail agent, forfeiture often triggers the agent’s right to use collateral pledged at the start of the bond to cover the loss, and a cosigner can be held responsible for the full bond amount under the original agreement. Missing court also damages any argument for a lower bail amount in the future: judges weigh a defendant’s history of appearing under PC 1270.1, so a failure to appear on a robbery charge makes it far harder to get favorable bail terms if the person is rearrested.

Courts do allow a defendant to explain an absence, and in some circumstances a warrant can be recalled if there is a documented emergency, but that requires prompt action, usually through the defense attorney, rather than waiting for the next scheduled date. The safest course is always confirming every court date in writing and building in extra travel time, since even an unintentional delay can trigger forfeiture proceedings.

What happens if bail is posted but the defendant misses court — overview diagram

How bail amounts can change after they are first set

Bail is not locked in once it is set at booking or at arraignment. Either side can file a motion to modify bail, and the defense commonly does this when new information supports a lower amount, such as evidence of strong community ties, a job offer, or a cosigner willing to guarantee appearance. Prosecutors can likewise move to increase bail if new facts emerge, such as additional charges, a discovered prior conviction, or evidence the defendant poses a greater flight risk than originally understood.

A motion to modify bail typically results in a new hearing where the judge reconsiders the same factors required under PC 1270.1: the seriousness of the charge, the defendant’s record, danger to the public, community ties, and ability to pay. The court can raise, lower, or leave the amount unchanged, and it can also add or remove conditions of release, such as electronic monitoring or a no-contact order.

Bail can also be revoked entirely, most often after a failure to appear, a new arrest while out on bail, or a violation of release conditions. Revocation usually means the defendant is taken back into custody and a new bail hearing is scheduled, where the same statutory factors apply again, often with a presumption against release given the intervening violation.

How our experience shapes practical help for robbery bail cases

The agency has handled robbery bail cases across various booking counties in Southern California, including work in Los Angeles and San Diego courts. That experience shapes how agents approach a new call: confirming the exact booking county and statute cited, checking for holds under PC 1275.1 or out-of-county warrants, and reviewing the insurer’s filed premium rate before quoting a family anything.

Bilingual staff handle calls in English and Spanish, which matters when a family is trying to sort through statutory language and county paperwork under stress. Agents also prepare the written undertaking that formally binds the surety to the court, a document families should always receive and review rather than accept verbally.

None of that replaces a defense attorney’s role at a bail hearing, but it does remove the guesswork around which county’s rules apply, whether a hold needs to be resolved first, and what the actual premium cost will be before any money changes hands.

— Jake

Practical help from Armstrong Bail Bonds when you need to post bail fast

If you are trying to get someone released on a robbery charge, the practical problem is usually speed and clarity, not just cost. Armstrong Bail Bonds offers 24/7 bail assistance across Los Angeles and San Diego counties, an online application for starting the process remotely, and payment options including 1% bail bonds and 2% bail bonds where a case qualifies, along with no collateral bail bonds arrangements for clients who meet the criteria.

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Before committing to any agent, ask the same questions we outlined above: the filed premium rate, the underwriting insurer’s name, collateral and cosigner terms in writing, expected timing for release, and whether the agent will personally confirm holds and the arraignment date before posting. Licensed agents work directly with local courts and county jails, and that direct relationship is often what separates a same-day release from a multi-day delay.

Start at Armstrong Bail Bonds to apply online or reach a licensed agent directly, day or night.

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.

Sources

FAQ

What is the minimum sentence for robbery in California?

Sentencing depends on the degree of robbery and any enhancements charged, and the exact range should be confirmed against Penal Code section 211 and 212.5 for the specific facts of a case. A defense attorney can explain how a particular charge, prior record, or enhancement affects the sentencing range that applies.

What crimes can you not bail out of?

California law does not create a blanket category of crimes where bail is entirely unavailable, but capital crimes and certain cases involving strong evidence of guilt can result in bail being denied after a hearing. Serious and violent felonies, including many robbery charges, require the open-court hearing process under Penal Code section 1270.1 before any bail amount is finalized, and a judge can decide release is not appropriate based on the statutory factors.

What is the typical bail amount in California?

There is no single statewide figure, since bail amounts come from each county’s own published schedule and vary by charge and county. For robbery specifically, Marin County’s 2026 schedule lists $75,000 for first-degree robbery and $50,000 for second-degree robbery, and other counties publish different figures for the same statute.

Can you go to jail for stealing $20 in California?

A theft of a small amount is typically charged as petty theft rather than robbery, since robbery under Penal Code section 211 requires the use of force or fear against a person, not just the value of what was taken. Whether jail time applies depends on the specific charge filed and the defendant’s prior record, and the distinction between a misdemeanor theft and a felony robbery charge is explained further in this comparison of misdemeanors and felonies.