Felony Bail Bonds in Louisiana
Higher amounts, closer scrutiny, more paperwork. We write felony bonds across all nine parishes we serve, at any hour.
Felony bonds are where the process gets slower and the stakes get higher. Amounts run from a few thousand dollars into six figures, the court looks harder at whether release is appropriate, and the conditions attached to that release tend to be more restrictive.
Why felony bonds take longer
Serious charges usually fall outside a court’s bail schedule, which means a judge has to set the amount rather than a clerk applying a fixed figure. Louisiana requires an appearance before a judge within 72 hours of arrest, excluding weekends and holidays, so a Friday arrest before a Monday holiday can mean a genuinely long wait — and there is nothing a bondsman can do to shorten it.
Code of Criminal Procedure Article 316 lists what the judge weighs: the seriousness of the offense including whether violence or a controlled substance was involved, the weight of the evidence, prior record, ability to give bail, danger to others and the community, drug testing results, and whether the person was already out on bond for a prior felony.
Article 321(D) matters here. Louisiana law presumes that anyone arrested on a new felony, or who has previously failed to appear on the underlying felony after being notified in open court, will not be released on recognizance or on someone’s signature. That presumption can only be overcome at a contradictory hearing by clear and convincing evidence. In practice, that means a commercial surety bond is usually the only realistic route out.
What a larger bond requires from you
- A stronger co-signer. Verifiable income, stable employment, real ties to the parish.
- Possibly collateral. On large bonds we may need property or another asset pledged. Louisiana Department of Insurance Regulation 123 requires a written collateral agreement and receipt identifying the property, the pledgor, the defendant, the bond amount and the power of attorney number — and requires the collateral back within 30 days after the bail obligation is discharged.
- More than one signer, sometimes. Very large bonds are occasionally indemnified by more than one person.
What it costs
The same statutory rate applies regardless of charge severity: 12% of the face amount, plus the sheriff’s fee under La. R.S. 22:822. A $100,000 felony bond means roughly $12,000 in premium plus about $2,000 in statutory fees. See the full cost table.
Call before you assume it is impossible
Families regularly tell us they did not call because they assumed a $75,000 bond was out of reach. Often it is not — particularly where there is a solid co-signer or an asset to pledge. It costs nothing to find out. Call (225) 243-4863.
Talk to a licensed Louisiana bondsman now.
We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across all nine parishes we serve.