PC 187 Murder — California Bail Bonds
Penal Code 187 covers the unlawful killing of another person. The booking path is the same as any other arrest — county intake, then a case calendared by that county's Superior Court — but bail on this statute is typically set very high or left entirely for a judge. A bail agent therefore works around the court calendar rather than the jail window, and no figure can be quoted from the statute alone.
Filing level in California: felony. The county bail schedule where the booking happened, the counts written on the booking sheet, any alleged enhancements, and any hold all drive the amount — and only the court can change it. This page is general information about how bail works on a PC 187 booking. It is not legal advice about anyone's case.
Call (310) 846-8980 with the person's full legal name, date of birth, and the city or jail. A licensed California bail agent can confirm the bail the court has posted on the PC 187 count and explain the premium and payment terms in plain language.
General factors
What affects bail on this charge
- The county bail schedule in effect where the booking happened.
- Whether the case is filed as a felony or a misdemeanor.
- Additional counts, enhancements, or a probation or parole hold.
- Any bail decision a judge makes at arraignment or on a defense motion.
Eight statutes
Other common charges
Where to start
Large California counties
Plain language
How a PC 187 booking usually unfolds
After an arrest, jail staff enter the alleged counts and apply the county bail schedule. On a PC 187 booking the scheduled figure is the starting point, and it is frequently not the final number: the district attorney decides what to actually file, and the PC 187 count on the booking sheet can be amended, added to, or dropped before or at arraignment.
That gap between booking and filing is why two people booked on the same statute in different counties can face very different bail. It is also why an agent asks for the booking sheet details instead of quoting a figure from the charge name alone.
General factors
What moves bail up or down on this statute
The county bail schedule in effect where the booking happened. Whether the case is filed as a felony or a misdemeanor. Additional counts or alleged enhancements attached to the PC 187 count. A probation or parole hold, or a warrant from another jurisdiction. And any decision a judge makes at arraignment or on a defense motion, in either direction.
Bail in California is set by the court. No bail bond company can raise it, lower it, or promise what a judge will do. What an agent can do is confirm what is currently posted, explain the terms of the bond, and get the paperwork moving without delay.
Affordable terms
Cost, plans, and signing
The premium on a California bail bond is a percentage of the full bail amount, filed with the state by the surety. Because the amount needed to start is what most families are asking about, payment plans and low down payments are available on many bonds, and most bonds are written without collateral. Qualification is not automatic, and terms depend on the case, the surety, and the agent.
The indemnitor — often a parent, spouse, or close friend — signs the agreement and takes responsibility for the defendant's court appearances and for the agreed premium. Nothing is signed before it is explained out loud, and the paperwork is normally handled by phone and electronic signature.
Answers
PC 187 bail bond questions
Is bail available on a PC 187 charge in California?
Bail is set by the court, and on most charges a bond can be arranged once an amount is posted. Some cases are held for a judge's decision at arraignment, which is why an agent checks the booking record first.
How much is bail for PC 187?
The county bail schedule where the booking happened is the starting point, and the counts on the booking sheet, alleged enhancements, and any hold move the figure. No accurate number can be published on a page.
Is PC 187 a felony or a misdemeanor?
Felony in general terms, but the district attorney decides what is actually filed and the charge can change before or at arraignment. This page is information, not legal advice about a specific case.
What does a PC 187 bond cost?
The premium is a percentage of the full bail amount, filed with the state by the surety. Payment plans and low down payments are available on many bonds, and qualification is not automatic.
Is collateral required on a PC 187 bond?
Most bonds are written without collateral. Whether it applies depends on the bail amount, the case, and the surety, and it is explained before anything is signed.
Can a PC 187 bail amount be reduced?
Only the court can change bail. A defense attorney can ask for a reduction at arraignment or by motion; a bail bond company has no role in that decision.
Call (310) 846-8980 now
Lines are answered live, every hour of every day. Have the person's full name, date of birth, and the city or jail where they were booked, and a licensed California bail agent can start work on the first call.
This website is designed for general California bail bond information only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. Various bail bonds companies use this platform and maintain independent bail bond companies.
Bail in California is set by the court. Bond premiums and payment terms vary by case, surety, and agent. Qualification is not automatic. Call for a confidential case review.