You Loved One Has Been Arrested, What Now?

In 2017 alone, over 10 million people were arrested in the US.

Getting arrested is something that only seems to happen to criminals until it happens to someone close to you. When the unfortunate happens, it is time to think on your feet.

If you are contacted by someone in jail for help, how you react to the situation can make all the difference. In this article, you shall learn what to do when your loved one is arrested.

Be Respectful to the Authorities

In the event you are present during the arrest, it is important that you are respectful to the arresting officers.

It is alright to ask them questions, but you should not impede them from doing their jobs. Most officers are ready to give you the information you need. However, your approach really matters.

Find out if your loved one has been arrested or just being detained. If it is an arrest, find out why and whether there’s a warrant for it. Inquire about the county or jurisdiction that issued the warrant and the bond terms.

If the charge is a misdemeanor, the officers may be able to tell you the exact bond amount and where to post it.

At times your loved one may qualify for a personal recognizance bond. This means that the officers will let them go after finishing the booking procedures without posting bond.

Keep Calm and Ensure the Arrested Party is Too

Finding out your loved one has been arrested can be a cause for worry and panic. All you want to do from that point is to find out if they’re okay and how everything happened. However, this is not the time for that.

It is important that you keep cool and help your loved one stay calm. It’s neither the time nor place to scold your son or daughter. Show them you are in their corner.

Avoid asking questions about the incident. All you should ask about are the charges and where they are being held.

Odds are that the phone call is being monitored. Tell them not to say anything incriminating over the phone and not to talk about the incident with anyone until you arrive with an attorney.

Get In Touch With a Criminal Defense Lawyer

In such situations, there is a lot at stake. It is essential that you contact a lawyer immediately and let them know where your loved one is being detained.

Depending on the circumstances, your criminal defense attorney will rush to the station and demand to speak with their client.

The law requires police officers to inform detainees that their lawyer has arrived and wishes to speak to them. This will help disrupt custodial interrogation.

Find Your Loved One

Sometimes information about the arrest of your loved one may come from a third party. In these situations, you will not be aware of where exactly they may be detained.

Though it is possible to locate them via your local government website, it may take some time for the system to be updated.

There are commercial inmate locators which are largely ineffective. The best option would be to call your local law enforcement through their non-emergency line.

They will assist you to locate your loved one. Ensure that you have all the necessary information that will assist them in their search. These include full names with correct spellings, date of birth and AKAs.

You should also look up the number of the local jail and call directly. Request to speak with the booking department. If they are there, proceed to find out where the arrest took place.

Deal With Bond Issues

Once you have located your loved one and hired a lawyer, the next priority should be getting them out.

Get as many details as you can about the criminal charges. The detainee should have a charging instrument detailing all the particulars of the alleged crime.

Find out the bond amount and consult your lawyer on the best course of action.
It is important to know that there are additional fees and prepare for them when posting a bond.

Normally, county jails have a bond-out window somewhere in their administrative section.

When paying a bond for a friend or relative, it is better to consider it as a gift to them. It may be forfeited if they fail to appear in court. It could also be assigned to the attorney or even be used to pay fines and court costs.

Any amount that is left after the case is resolved will be refunded to the person who posted bond. Of course, it will also be less an administration fee.

Once you have posted a bond, ensure that you have organized transport for your friend. Most county jails and police stations are not in safe neighborhoods.

If they are being held to a high money bond, consider getting in touch with a good bail bondsman to assist you. These are institutions or at times individuals that act as sureties for bond posting purposes.

 How to Handle Having Someone in Jail

There are situations where your loved one may end up spending some time in jail. It may be because they were denied bail in court or even sentenced to do time. Such situations may be very difficult to cope with.

STAY IN THE MOMENT

Trying to figure out how you will cope during the time your loved one is in jail will overwhelm you. Focus on living a day at a time and take each moment as it comes.

Try using the mindfulness technique to help you with this. Do not let your mind wander. Only focus on what you are doing.

CREATE CREATE A VISITATION PLAN

Most jails will have a limit to the number of times an inmate can receive visitors. They may also be held in a facility that’s far from where you live.

With this information, decide how often you will be visiting and writing to them. Let your loved one know so that both of you know what to expect.

Act Swiftly When Your Loved One is Arrested

Arrests can be stressful and traumatic. Someone in jail can panic and during that time make the situation worse or even incriminate themselves. Ensure that you go to their aid the moment you learn they are in police custody.

Alliance Bail Bonds is a company dedicated to offering quick and efficient bail bond services in Volusia County. Get in touch with us today for more information about how we can assist you.