Have you been charged with manslaughter? In 2021, 2361 cases of homicides were reported in California. Manslaughter is among the most severe charges in California. The prosecutor and the victim’s family will likely seek the maximum penalty. Unfortunately, bail is not always a guarantee in such a severe crime. Even if the judge allows you to post bail, the bail amount is likely to be expensive. This means you may be unable to return to your work and your loved ones quickly.
Fortunately, you can work with an experienced bail bond company to secure your release from jail in the shortest time possible. Our professional and licensed bail bond agents at Golden Boy Bail Bonds are available 24/7 to assist you with manslaughter bail bonds. Our goal is to help you get out of jail quickly so you can focus on your loved ones and defense. Count on us to use our strong relationship with court officials to get you out of jail in no time.
This is your complete guide to bail for manslaughter in California.
What Exactly is Manslaughter?
Manslaughter is a homicide that involves the illegal act of killing another person without premeditation, otherwise known as “malice aforethought.” Although it’s considered less severe than murder, it still comes with harsh fines, hefty penalties, and lengthy prison sentences.
The distinction between murder and manslaughter is whether there was any intention or malice aforethought to kill the victim. Homicide is considered murder if you recklessly endanger the victim’s life. On the other hand, manslaughter occurs due to criminal negligence or heat of passion.
Manslaughter falls into three different categories in California, including:
Voluntary manslaughter
Involuntary manslaughter
Vehicular manslaughter
Let’s discuss each charge in detail below.
What is Voluntary Manslaughter?
This type of manslaughter occurs when a person kills another person under circumstances that can provoke any reasonable individual. Generally speaking, voluntary manslaughter is considered a “heat of passion crime.” Individuals who kill in the heat of passion often exhibit shock, rage, or flight. For a crime to be considered voluntary manslaughter, there must be enough proof that the individual had no time to cool off before committing the crime.
Good examples of voluntary manslaughter charges that most people relate to include:
A spouse who is provoked to kill the partner after finding them in bed with a best friend
A killing that occurs when defending yourself
In the examples above, if the defendant waits until the next day to kill the victim, then the crime will likely be considered murder because there is premeditation.
What is Involuntary Manslaughter?
Unlike voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter completely lacks murder intent. Typically, defendants kill the victim due to criminal negligence or reckless behavior. Great examples of involuntary manslaughter that you are likely to relate to include:
A husband brandishes a weapon and threatens to kill his wife after suspecting that she is cheating on him. Upon seeing the gun, the wife gets a heart attack and dies
An employee forces workers to work in extreme weather conditions, and they die
A nurse ignores a vulnerable patient
A doctor practicing medicine without a valid license
A medical practitioner prescribes the wrong medication
What is Vehicular Manslaughter?
Vehicular manslaughter occurs when a defendant kills the victim due to reckless driving. Vehicular manslaughter can be categorized into a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on whether the defendant committed gross negligence, caused the collision for financial gain, committed an illegal act of ordinary negligence, or was driving under the influence.
Penalties for Manslaughter Charges in California
While manslaughter is considered less severe than murder, it still carries heavy penalties and lengthy prison sentences. Let’s break down the penalties for different manslaughter charges below:
Voluntary Manslaughter
Voluntary manslaughter is a felony and is often punished by 3, 6, or 11 years in prison. You might also be slapped with a $10,000 fine and lose your firearm rights. In addition, you might also get a strike on your record and other penalties.
Involuntary Manslaughter
Like voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter is also a felony. However, it carries less severe penalties such as 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison, a strike on your record, and a $10,000 fine. You might also lose certain rights.
Vehicular Manslaughter
The circumstances of each crime determine vehicular manslaughter penalties. Typically, vehicular manslaughter results in a $1,000 fine for a misdemeanor and a $10,000 fine for a felony. You might be sentenced to up to 1 year in a county jail for a misdemeanor. For a felony, you might be sentenced to 2 to 10 years in state prison.
What To Do if You are Facing Manslaughter Charges?
Being charged with manslaughter can completely change your life. Apart from spending several years in a county or state jail, you might also lose other rights, such as custody of your child, a driving license, and more. Additionally, you might lose your job or miss out on a life-changing opportunity. It can also damage your relationship with your close relatives. You are also likely to go through psychological and emotional stress due to the conviction.
The best way to beat your charges and get back to your everyday life is by securing your release from jail in the shortest time possible. That is where bail bonds come in. Posting bail can help you get out of jail so you can focus on your defense and get back to what matters most to you.
How Much is Bail for Manslaughter?
Knowing how much bail you will likely pay for manslaughter will prove beneficial when you need to secure your release or quickly get a loved one out of jail. Bail amounts for manslaughter vary from one state to another. However, bail for manslaughter is exceptionally high all over the country because it is a severe crime. Unfortunately, many defendants don’t have enough money to post bail for manslaughter. Luckily, you can always work with a trusted and licensed bail bond company to find the cheapest bail bonds for manslaughter.
At Golden Boy Bail Bonds, we are proud to provide affordable bail bonds for manslaughter in California. We also offer flexible financing options and discounts.
If you choose to work with a bail bond company, you must pay a percentage of the bail amount as a premium for your bail. Judges consider the bail amounts set in the bail schedule when setting bail. The judge also has the discretion to set bail at a lower or higher cost than is listed.
The bail amount listed in San Diego’s bail schedule for different manslaughter charges includes the following:
$100,000 for voluntary manslaughter
$25,000 for involuntary manslaughter
$100,000 for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence
$5,000 for vehicular manslaughter with ordinary negligence
$100,000 for vehicular manslaughter for financial gain
In Orange County, bail for different manslaughter charges is set at:
$100,000 for voluntary manslaughter
$25,000 for involuntary manslaughter
$100,000 for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence
$100,000 for vehicular manslaughter with ordinary negligence
$100,000 for vehicular manslaughter for financial gain
According to Riverside County’s bail schedule, bail for different manslaughter charges is:
$80,000 for voluntary manslaughter
$25,000 for involuntary manslaughter
$7,500 for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence
$7,500 for vehicular manslaughter with ordinary negligence
$7,500 for vehicular manslaughter for financial gain
What if You Can’t Afford Bail For Manslaughter
Bail for manslaughter tends to be very high. It might even be higher if other charges and enhancements are added to the crime. Unsurprisingly, many people cannot raise the entire amount of money required to post bail. Even if you have the money, it will likely be tied with the court system for many years. Although you can also use your property as collateral, the value of your property must be double the value of the bail amount.
Failure to post bail after being convicted of manslaughter means you will have to spend more time behind bars. Instead of putting your financial security and defense at risk, work with a licensed bail bond agent to get out of jail quickly. The bail bond company you will work with guarantees the court that you will cooperate and follow all the terms of your pre-trial release.
Speak to a Licensed Bail Bond Agent Today
You can only prove your innocence by creating a strong and thorough defense. That cannot happen if you are behind bars. You don’t have to be stuck in jail awaiting trial when all you have to do is to speak to a licensed bail bond agent. A licensed bail bond company will post bail quickly so you can have the best chance to beat your manslaughter charges and get back to what matters most.
At Golden Boy Bail Bonds, we are proud to give people a chance to overcome their manslaughter charges. That’s why our licensed bail bond agents stay on standby every day of the year to get you out of jail in no time. Contact our experienced agents online or give us a call today at 619-231-0200 to get quick and affordable bail for manslaughter.