Note that these are ballpark figures. Actual bail depends on case specifics, criminal history, and judicial discretion. This reflects the 2025 bail schedule for Ventura County.
How does Ventura county handle bail?
Ventura County uses traditional cash bail for all offenses. Unlike LA County’s 2023 reforms that eliminated cash bail for most crimes, Ventura requires bail for every arrest — from $2,500 minimum for some misdemeanors to $500,000 for murder.
No zero-bail provisions exist. Every defendant must post bail, get OR release from a judge, or stay in custody until arraignment.
How much is my bail? Misdemeanor bail amounts
Standard misdemeanor bail: $5,000
DUI and Drunk Driving
- All DUI offenses (VC 23152): $5,000
- First offense, high BAC, commercial driver—all the same
Domestic Violence
- Domestic battery (PC 243(e)): $10,000
- Domestic battery with prior DV conviction: $20,000
- Protective order violation: $10,000 (doubles with priors)
Assault and Battery
- Battery on peace officer: $10,000
- Assault on peace officer: $10,000
- Battery on elderly/dependent adult: $10,000
Weapons
- Exhibiting deadly weapon (not firearm): $5,000
- Exhibiting firearm: $10,000
Common Misdemeanors at $5,000
- Obstruction of officers (PC 148(a))
- Violation of civil rights (PC 422.6)
- Aggravated trespassing (PC 602.5(b))
- Evading police (VC 2800.1)
- Hit and run property damage (VC 20002(a))
- Driving on suspended license for DUI (VC 14601.2)
Minimums
- Unlisted misdemeanors: $2,500
- Misdemeanor probation violations: $5,000
Felony bail amounts
Unlisted felony minimum: $10,000
Murder and Manslaughter
- Murder with special circumstances: No bail
- Murder: $500,000
- Voluntary manslaughter: $100,000
- Involuntary manslaughter: $50,000
- Vehicular manslaughter (gross negligence): $50,000
- Gross vehicular manslaughter DUI: $50,000
- Gross vehicular manslaughter DUI with prior: $250,000
Property Crimes
- Second-degree burglary: $10,000
- First-degree burglary (residential): $50,000
- Grand theft (most types): $20,000
- Grand theft auto: $20,000
- Grand theft from elder: $20,000
- Theft of firearm: $20,000
- Receiving stolen vehicle: $20,000
Arson
- Most arson offenses (PC 451): $50,000
- Lesser arson (PC 451(d)): $20,000
- Aggravated arson: $250,000
- Vandalism of churches/cemeteries: $20,000
- Hate-based vandalism: $50,000
Drug Offenses
- Simple possession/use: $5,000 (misdemeanor)
- Possession for sale (narcotics): $50,000
- Sale of narcotics: $50,000
- Manufacturing PCP: $50,000
- Possession of cannabis for sale: $20,000
- Sale of cannabis: $20,000
- Using minors for cannabis sales: $50,000
- Sale to minors: $100,000
- Sale to minors on school grounds: $100,000
- Operating fortified drug house: $100,000
- Possession while armed: $50,000
Weapons and Firearms
- Most firearm possession felonies: $50,000
- Concealed firearms: $50,000
- Loaded firearms in vehicles: $50,000
- Prohibited persons with firearms: $50,000
- Sale of machine guns: $100,000
- Sale of assault weapons: $100,000
- Firearms on school grounds: $100,000
- Drawing firearm at school: $250,000
- Exhibiting loaded firearm at daycare: $50,000
- Weapons in courthouse: $20,000
Robbery and Kidnapping
- First-degree robbery: $100,000
- Second-degree robbery: $50,000
- Carjacking: $100,000
- Basic kidnapping: $100,000
- Kidnapping for ransom: $250,000
- Kidnapping during carjacking: $250,000
Assault and Violent Crimes
- Assault with deadly weapon: $20,000
- Assault with deadly weapon (with DV prior): $40,000
- Assault with firearm: $50,000
- Assault with firearm (with DV prior): $100,000
- Assault with assault weapon/machine gun: $100,000
- Assault with semiautomatic: $50,000
- Assault on peace officer: $50,000
- Assault on peace officer with firearm: $100,000
- Assault on peace officer with assault weapon: $250,000
- Shooting at occupied buildings: $50,000
- Torture: $250,000
- Aggravated mayhem: $250,000
- Mayhem: $100,000
- Deadly assault on children under 8: $250,000
Domestic Violence Felonies
All amounts double with prior DV convictions
- Corporal injury to spouse (PC 273.5): $20,000 (doubles to $40,000)
- Spousal rape: $100,000 (doubles to $200,000)
- Felony protective order violation: $20,000 (doubles to $40,000)
- Child abuse (PC 273a(a)): $50,000
- Child beating: $20,000
Sex Offenses
- Rape: $100,000
- Rape in concert: $150,000
- Aggravated sexual assault of children: $250,000
- Sexual acts with children 10 or younger: $250,000
- Lewd acts with children under 14: $50,000
- Lewd acts with force: $100,000
- Lewd acts (age difference): $20,000
- Continuing sexual abuse: $50,000
- Forcible sodomy/oral copulation: $100,000
- Sodomy/oral copulation in concert: $150,000
- Foreign object penetration by force: $100,000
- Pandering of minors: $50,000
- Prostitution by HIV+ with priors: $100,000
- Basic pimping/pandering: $20,000
- Failure to register (sex offender): $20,000 felony / $10,000 misdemeanor
- Child pornography possession: $50,000
Gang Crimes
- All major gang offenses: $100,000
- Gang conspiracy: $100,000
- Gang participation: $100,000
White Collar and Fraud
- Identity theft: $50,000
- False impersonation: $50,000
- Extortion: $50,000
- Attempted extortion: $50,000
- Embezzlement: $10,000 (unlisted felony minimum)
- Perjury: $20,000
- Perjury in death penalty cases: No bail
- Witness intimidation: $20,000
- Aggravated witness intimidation: $50,000
DUI and Traffic Felonies
- DUI causing injury/death: $50,000
- DUI with 3+ priors in 7 years: $50,000
- DUI with prior felony DUI: $50,000
- DUI causing GBI (3rd+ offense): $100,000
- Felony hit and run with injury: $50,000
- Hit and run causing death: $100,000
- Evading peace officers: $50,000
- Fleeing causing death: $100,000
- Vehicle theft: $20,000
- Emergency vehicle theft: $50,000
Probation Violations and Custody Offenses
- Felony probation violation: No bail
- Escape from custody: $20,000
- Escape from county jail: $50,000-$100,000
- Prison escape with force: $100,000
- Assault by life prisoners: $500,000
- Assault by prisoners: $50,000
Bail enhancements
These add to your base bail:
Three Strikes
- One prior strike: Doubles base bail
- Two prior strikes: $250,000 (unless base exceeds this)
Firearm Enhancements
- Personal use (PC 12022.5(a)(1)): +$40,000
- Personal use in serious felonies (PC 12022.53(b)): +$100,000
- Discharging firearm (PC 12022.53(c)): +$200,000
- Discharging causing GBI/death (PC 12022.53(d)): +$250,000
Gang Enhancements
- Gang benefit (PC 186.22(b)(1)): +$100,000
- Life term gang enhancement: +$250,000
Great Bodily Injury
- GBI (PC 12022.7(a)): +$30,000
- GBI causing coma (PC 12022.7(b)): +$50,000
- Domestic violence GBI (PC 12022.7(e)): +$50,000
Prior Convictions
- Prior serious felony (PC 667(a)(1)): +$50,000 per prior
- Prior prison term (PC 667.5(b)): +$10,000 per prior
Other Circumstances
- Crime while on bail/OR: Doubles base bail
- Crime while on probation: +$5,000 per misdemeanor, +$10,000 per felony
Key differences from LA County
LA County eliminated cash bail for most offenses in October 2023. Ventura County did not.
What this means:
- LA County: Most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies get citation release or book-and-release with $0 bail
- Ventura County: Every arrest requires posting bail or staying in custody
Example: DUI arrest in LA County might result in citation release. Same arrest in Ventura County requires $5,000 bail.
What this means for you
Cash bail creates a two-tier system. If you can afford bail, you go home. If you can’t, you sit in jail, potentially losing your job, housing, and custody of your children while awaiting trial.
Enhancements stack quickly. A $20,000 assault charge becomes $140,000+ with DV priors (doubles to $40,000), gang enhancement (+$100,000), and commission while on probation (+$10,000).
Judges can reduce bail below scheduled amounts through PC 1275 motions. Strong community ties, employment, and family responsibilities help. But you need experienced counsel to make this happen.
You need aggressive defense to fight the charges and potentially reduce bail.
Contact Robert M. Helfend
Call: 805-273-5611
Don’t face the system alone. Get experienced criminal defense counsel who knows Ventura County courts.
Published October 16, 2025.