Know What to Expect If You Are Ever Arrested
Posted on: 15 July 2016
Being arrested for the first time can be very stressful because you do not know what to expect. If you are ever arrested, it is important to know what to do to ensure that you can get out of jail as quickly as possible. The guide below walks you through a few quick tips for ensuring you are able to get out of jail quickly after you are arrested.
Save Your Phone Call
Many people make the mistake of pleading to call someone to let that person know that they are in jail as soon as they arrive. This is not a good idea because you will not yet have the vital information that you need to give to the person that you are calling until after you speak with the magistrate. The magistrate will let you know what charges you are being charged with and let you know if there is a bail that can be paid for you to be released or if you can be released on your own recognizance. If you are released on your own recognizance, you must sign a paper stating that you will show up to your court date on time. Once you have met with the magistrate, you can call someone to let them know what your bail is set at and how soon you can be released.
Understand What Bail Is
In order for you to be released, you will need to first post your bail. Depending upon the amount that the bail is set at, it may be easy or it could be difficult for someone to get the money they need to get you out of jail. Many courts require you to pay a specific percentage of the actual bail amount as proof that you do intend to show up to court on the date that you are scheduled to appear. If you show up to court on time, everything will be fine. If you fail to appear, the money you put down will be gone, and whoever signed for the bail will be responsible for the rest of the amount that is due.
Determine How to Pay for the Bail Amount
You can have someone pay the bail amount for you in cash or get a bail bondsman to pay the bail amount for you. You may have to put something down as collateral for the bond, such as a title to a car or truck, depending on how high the bond is. The bail bondsman will require you to sign documents stating that you know what the consequences are if you fail to show up to court at the scheduled hearing, and he or she can take whatever you put down as collateral for the bond if you fail to show to court on the specific day you are supposed to show up to court.
The entire process may take a few hours to a few days, depending on what day of the week you are arrested. If you are arrested on a Friday or on a holiday, you may have to wait a few days for a magistrate to see your case.
For more information about bail bonds, talk to a company such as Chesterfield Bonding.
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