Well you have done the best thing possible, by calling a Licensed California bail Agent.  What I will need from you is the name of the individual that’s in jail, and the general area where that person was arrested if you know it.  My job as a Bail Bondsman is to provide you free of charge with information regarding the individual’s arrest.  This is called Bail Information.  Bail information usually consists of the Bail amount and charges that have been brought against the accused.   The Bail amount is the price of the crime the individual is charged with.  The charges are the actual crime he/she is charged with, and that’s usually in the form of a Penal Code.  All crimes have a penal code.  Penal codes as defined are (A body of Laws relating to crimes and offenses and their commission).  So when a person asks what are they charged with” we can give you the exact penal code that the Jail gives us.  Once you know the Penal code there is a variety of ways to find out more detailed information about the crime.  While we may know a great deal about the process of Bail, make no mistake, we do not, and cannot interpret law.  However I have no problem with giving you the Penal code, and reading you exactly what it says based on a particular crime.  In fact it would be my pleasure in helping you gain a bit more clarity regarding what happens when someone is arrested.