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Felony Bail Bonds
In Louisiana
A felony is Louisiana's most serious category of crime — defined by law, not by how serious an offense feels. Whatever the specific charge, Carter Bail Bonds explains what makes it a felony, how felony bail works, and gets your loved one out fast, 24/7, at Louisiana's straightforward 12% rate.
Table Of Contents
Jump straight to the felony bail bond information you need — the legal definition, every felony-tier charge we handle, costs, process, eligibility, and FAQs.
What Makes a Crime a Felony in Louisiana?
Felony Charges Carter Bail Bonds Handles
How Much Does Felony Bail Cost?
How The Felony Bail Process Works
Bail Eligibility for Felony Charges
Diversion Programs & Alternatives
What We Need When You Call
FAQs — Felony Bail Bonds
Service Areas — Parishes We Serve
What Makes a Crime a Felony in Louisiana?
The Legal Definition
Under Louisiana law, the definition is precise and doesn't depend on how a crime sounds or feels: "Felony" is any crime for which an offender may be sentenced to death or imprisonment at hard labor. Every other crime is legally a misdemeanor.
The Line Is Drawn by the Statute
The felony/misdemeanor line is drawn by the specific sentencing range written into each individual statute, not by a general sense of severity. A charge is a felony if the law allows for hard labor imprisonment as a possible sentence — even if a judge ultimately imposes a lighter sentence, probation, or no jail time at all, the charge is still classified as a felony because hard labor was a legally available punishment.
Why It Matters for Bail
Felony bail amounts are typically higher than misdemeanor bail, felony cases are less likely to qualify for pre-trial diversion, and a felony conviction carries longer-term consequences (loss of certain rights, harder background checks, sentencing enhancements on any future charge).
Felony Charges Carter Bail Bonds Handles
Louisiana felonies span an enormous range of severity — from lower-tier property felonies to the most serious violent crimes in the criminal code. Below are the felony-tier charges Carter Bail Bonds regularly handles bail for. Select any charge for full details on penalties, typical bail amounts, and the bail process for that specific offense.
Felony Property Crimes
Felony Crimes Against the Person
- Simple, First Degree, Second Degree & Armed Robbery — Robbery Bail Bonds
- Second Degree, Aggravated, & Aggravated Second Degree Battery — Assault & Battery Bail Bonds
- Manslaughter — Manslaughter Bail Bonds
- First & Second Degree Murder — Murder Bail Bonds
- Felony-tier Cruelty & Exploitation of Elderly Persons — Elder Abuse Bail Bonds
Felony Weapons & Drug Charges
Felony Repeat & Procedural Charges
- Felony-tier Jumping Bail (Failure to Appear) — Failure to Appear Bail Bonds
- Third & Fourth Offense DWI — DUI Bail Bonds
This list reflects the felony-tier cards found within each dedicated charge page — most charges on this site have both misdemeanor and felony versions depending on severity, prior record, or specific circumstances of the offense.
How Much Does
Felony Bail Cost?
Louisiana law (La. R.S. 22:1443) sets the bail bond premium at 12% of the total bail amount, or $120, whichever is greater — the same rate across every licensed bail bond company in the state, regardless of whether the charge is a felony or misdemeanor.
Felony Bond Cost Examples
Because felony bail amounts vary so widely — from a few thousand dollars for a lower-tier felony theft charge to six figures or more for the most serious violent crimes — we recommend visiting the specific charge page for a realistic bail range, or calling us directly with the court-set amount for an exact premium calculation. Payment plans are available. Felony bonds often carry larger amounts than misdemeanor bonds; we offer flexible monthly payment plans and low-down financing, and collateral is more commonly required on larger felony bonds.
Accepted Payment Methods
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
- Zelle
- Cash accepted in person at our Lake Charles office
- Premium is non-refundable by Louisiana state law, regardless of case outcome
How The Felony Bail Process Works
From arrest to release, here's what happens when you call Carter Bail Bonds for a felony bond in Calcasieu Parish or the surrounding parishes.
Step 1: Arrest & Booking
After a felony arrest in Calcasieu Parish, the defendant is transported to the Calcasieu Correctional Center (5410 E Broad St, Lake Charles, LA 70615 · 337-491-3800) for booking. Felony bail is more often set by a judge than by an automatic bail schedule, particularly for higher-severity charges.
Step 2: Call Carter Bail Bonds
Call us with the defendant's full name, date of birth, and the arresting agency. If you're missing details, tell us anyway — we can often locate the record ourselves through the jail's booking system.
Step 3: Review Costs & Sign Paperwork
Before anything is signed, we walk you through the exact premium, payment plan options, and collateral requirements. Felony bonds are more likely to require collateral than misdemeanor bonds, particularly at higher amounts. No hidden fees.
Step 4: Bond Is Posted at the Jail
Once paperwork and payment arrangements are complete, our licensed agent posts the bond directly at the facility holding the defendant.
Step 5: Release Processing
Jail staff process the release once the bond is posted. Release from Calcasieu Correctional Center typically happens within 2–8 hours after the bond is posted, though the most serious felony charges may involve additional court coordination.
Step 6: Release & Court Requirements
After release, the defendant must attend every scheduled court date and comply with any release conditions, which are typically more extensive for felony charges than misdemeanors. Missing court can result in a warrant, bond forfeiture, and a new "jumping bail" charge.
Bail Eligibility for Felony Charges
Most felony charges in Louisiana are bailable — but amounts, conditions, and (in the rare case of capital offenses) whether bail is available at all depend on the specific charge and circumstances.
Most Felonies Are Bailable
The large majority of felony charges in Louisiana are bailable offenses — the judge or parish bail schedule sets an amount based on the specific charge, its severity, the defendant's prior record, and flight-risk factors.
The Exception: First degree murder is a capital offense, and Louisiana's constitution allows a judge to deny bail entirely when the proof of guilt is evident or the presumption of guilt is great. This is the one significant exception. See our Murder Bail Bonds page for full details.
When Bail May Be Increased or Restricted
- Use of a weapon or serious bodily injury to a victim
- Prior felony or violent crime convictions
- Outstanding warrants or a history of failing to appear
- Circumstances suggesting a danger to a specific person or the public
Conditions of Release
- GPS monitoring, common on higher-severity felony charges
- No-contact orders with victims or witnesses
- Appearance at every scheduled court date
- No new arrests while the case is pending
Bail eligibility is always decided by a judge. Carter Bail Bonds does not set bail amounts or determine release — we post the bond once the court has set it.
Diversion Programs & Alternatives to Incarceration
Diversion eligibility for felony charges varies significantly by charge type — some lower-tier, non-violent felonies may qualify, while violent felonies and those with mandatory minimums typically do not.
Calcasieu Parish Pre-Trial Diversion
The Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Pre-Trial Diversion Program gives eligible defendants — particularly first-time, non-violent offenders — an alternative to prosecution. More information is available directly from the District Attorney's Office at calcasieuda.com.
Diversion Eligibility Varies by Felony Type
Unlike misdemeanors, most of which are realistic diversion candidates, felony diversion eligibility depends heavily on the specific charge. Lower-tier, non-violent felonies (such as lower-value felony theft) are more commonly considered than violent felonies or those carrying mandatory minimum sentences. Visit the specific charge page for details on diversion likelihood for that offense.
Diversion eligibility is determined entirely by the District Attorney's Office, not by Carter Bail Bonds. We are a licensed bail bond company — we handle release from custody, not case disposition. For questions about program eligibility, contact a Louisiana defense attorney or the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Office directly.
What We Need When You Call
Having these details ready helps us move quickly and get your loved one released as fast as possible. Don't have everything? Call anyway — we can often look it up.
Full Legal Name
First, middle, and last name as it appears on their ID.
Date of Birth
Prevents confusion when multiple people share the same name in the booking system.
Jail / Detention Facility
In most Calcasieu Parish arrests, this is Calcasieu Correctional Center, 5410 E Broad St, Lake Charles, LA 70615.
The Specific Charge
Felony bail varies enormously by charge type, so knowing the specific offense helps us give you accurate information fast.
Your Contact Info
Your name, phone number, and relationship to the defendant so we can keep you updated at every step.
Approximate Bail Amount (If Known)
If the court has already set bail, knowing the amount lets us start calculating your premium and payment options immediately.
FAQs — Felony Bail Bonds
Straight answers to the questions families ask us most about felony bonds in Louisiana.
Service Areas — Parishes We Serve
Carter Bail Bonds posts felony bonds across Southwest Louisiana. Select your parish to learn more, or call us directly if you don't see your parish listed — we work statewide.
Calcasieu Parish
Lake Charles · Sulphur · Westlake · Iowa · Vinton
Jefferson Davis Parish
Jennings · Welsh · Lake Arthur · Elton
Beauregard Parish
DeRidder · Merryville · DeQuincy area
Allen Parish
Oakdale · Oberlin · Kinder · Elizabeth
Cameron Parish
Cameron · Creole · Grand Chenier · Hackberry