The first fight in a criminal case is not about guilt. It is about whether you go home. Bail is often set higher than it needs to be, on a schedule, before anyone has looked at the individual facts. It can be challenged. We appear at arraignment, argue for release on your own recognizance or for bail you can actually afford, and file for a bail review when the first number is unreasonable. Recent changes in California law limit a court's ability to keep someone in custody simply because they cannot afford to pay. Getting a person out is not just about relief — it is about the case itself. A client who is out can work, can help build the defense, and is in a far stronger position than one negotiating from a cell.