If you have trouble with the law and are arrested, you might be wondering if you should post bail. What many people don't understand is how the criminal justice system works, so they assume that they shouldn't worry about posting bail, but in reality, it is usually best to do it. Here are some things you need to know about being arrested and bail.
1. You Can Be Arrested Without Being Charged
First, it is very important that you know that you can be arrested without being charged with a crime. Just because the police took you in, doesn't mean that they have enough evidence to charge you with a crime, or that they will even be able to charge you. What the arrest means is that they can hold you for up to a certain amount of time, usually about 48 hours, and then if during that time they can't get enough evidence to charge you, you are let go without anything on your record.
For this reason, it is very important that while you are waiting to be charged that you don't say anything that could help their case. In fact, you should actually ask for an attorney the moment you are arrested, and don't say anything until you consult with an attorney. This is because they will try to interrogate you, and what you say during that interrogation could be the case for you having criminal charges. This is why you need to talk to a dui attorney.
2. Posting Bailing Will Usually Help Your Case
If you are charged with a crime and you plead not guilty, then you will have some time between the trial and your initial arrest. Depending on the severity of the crime, you will usually have the option to post bail. This bail is used as collateral, so if you run or don't make your trial, then you still are arrested, and you lose all the bail money.
The reason to post bail is that during that time when you are on bail and waiting for the trial, you can show that you are a good contributing citizen. If you can stay out of trouble, hold a job, be a good parent (if applicable) and so much more, the judge is more likely to give you a lighter sentence if you are found guilty.
By knowing these things you can know how to protect yourself if you are arrested.
Share2 March 2018
My son and a group of his friends got in some trouble for trespassing and were arrested. Every one of the boys that were there were charged with trespassing, criminal mischief and vandalism. I contacted all of the other boys' parents and we got together to discuss the situation. After hearing the boys' stories about what happened that day, we knew that we had to hire an attorney to get the boys out of some of the trouble they were in. I have been working on my blog to help other parents that are struggling with the legal system prosecuting their kids for things that they may not have done.
