A criminal arrest can be a scary experience, especially for those who have not previously been in that situation. People may be arrested for a variety of reasons, but generally, an arrest will only occur if police have a valid reason to believe a person committed a criminal offense (known as probable cause). After being taken into custody, a person will appear before a judge, where they will be informed of the official criminal charges against them, and the judge will set an amount of bail that they will need to pay in order to be released. This amount can be a shock for many people; depending on the seriousness of the offense and other factors, it may be several thousand dollars. Those who do not have the cash available to pay bail need to understand their options for getting released.

Affordable Bail Bond Options

While a person is in custody, they will usually need someone else to raise the money needed to pay bail. This will usually be a close family member such as a spouse, parent, or sibling, although friends may also be able to help. A person's attorney can often provide guidance in these matters as well. Generally, however, the best option for paying bail is to work with a bail bondsman. In these cases, a person will usually only need to gather around 10 percent of the amount the judge has required them to pay. Options for raising these funds may include:

Drunk driving is one of the most common reasons people are arrested. While it is understood by most that driving while intoxicated is illegal, there are many situations where people get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. Gauging your level of intoxication can be difficult, and knowing exactly when you are over the legal limit is not always easy, especially since the use of alcohol can affect your judgment and make you feel like you are safe to drive. If you are arrested for DWI, you will need to determine how you can get out of jail quickly. While bail bonds are usually available, it is important to understand the factors that may affect the amount of bail that you may be required to pay.

Texas DWI Laws

Intoxication may occur in cases where a person does not have full control of themselves physically or mentally due to the use of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of substances. Anyone who has a blood alcohol content (BAC) over .08 percent is considered to be intoxicated. Operating a vehicle while intoxicated may potentially result in a DWI arrest.

If a police officer pulls you over and establishes probable cause to arrest you for DWI, you may be taken into custody. “Probable cause” is a reason to believe that you were intoxicated at the time that you were driving. This may be established through an officer’s observations, such as noticing slurred speech, smelling alcohol on your breath, or observing movements that indicate a lack of bodily coordination. An officer may also ask you to take a roadside breathalyzer test or to step outside of your vehicle and engage in field sobriety tests, such as walking in a straight line or standing on one foot. You are allowed to refuse these tests, although a refusal may give the officer a reason to suspect that you are intoxicated. If you are arrested and asked to take a breathalyzer test or another type of blood alcohol test at the police station, your refusal to take one of these tests will result in the automatic suspension of your driver’s license.

Being arrested and charged with a crime can be a scary experience. If you are not familiar with the criminal justice system, you will probably be worried about what will happen to you, especially if police officers attempt to get you to confess or tell you that you will go to jail for a long time if you do not cooperate. As you face criminal charges, it can be easy to feel like you have no hope of success, and to avoid a long sentence, you may consider fleeing after being released on bail. However, doing so is a serious offense, and it could lead to additional consequences.

The Crime of Bail Jumping and its Potential Consequences

After being arrested, you will usually be able to be released from police custody by paying bail. The justice system recognizes that being held in custody for an extended period of time could result in significant difficulties for you and your family. As long as releasing you into the public would not put others at risk, you will usually be allowed to get out of jail relatively quickly after being arrested.

The amount of bail you will need to pay to be released is set by a judge, and the purpose of bail is to make sure you will return to court when required. The judge may place some conditions on bail, such as prohibiting you from committing further crimes or restricting you from going to certain places or associating with certain people. If you make all required appearances during your case and meet the conditions that were put in place, the bail that you posted will be returned to you.

Criminal arrests can occur at any time of year. However, many scientific studies have observed that the rates of crime tend to increase during the summer months. There are many reasons why this may be the case, but regardless of the causes of alleged criminal activity, those who are arrested will need to understand what to do next. Most of the time, the top priority will be to get released from police custody. To do so, a person will usually need to pay bail, and they can do so by securing a bail bond.

Reasons for Higher Levels of Crime in the Summer

While nobody is sure why crime tends to increase during the summer months, there are a variety of possibilities, including:

• Warm weather - As temperatures increase, this can make people more irritable and aggressive, making them more likely to act violently against others. Exhaustion and stress brought on by summer heat may also cause people to act impulsively and take actions that they would not normally consider.

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For many parents, the thought of their child being arrested can be very frightening. Young people’s brains are not fully developed, and they often act impulsively without thinking about the consequences of their actions. Unfortunately, this lack of restraint may lead them to commit crimes, and if they are caught, they may be arrested, taken into police custody, and required to appear before a judge in juvenile court. In juvenile delinquency proceedings and related criminal cases, parents will need to understand whether bail will need to be paid before their child can be released.

The Juvenile Court System and Transfers to Adult Court

When minors are between the ages of 10 and 17, criminal cases are handled in juvenile courts. However, a minor who is at least 17 years old will be treated as an adult following an arrest. The juvenile court system is less focused on imposing penalties for violations of the law, and instead, it seeks to rehabilitate youths and provide them with tools to help avoid criminal activity in the future, while still making sure an appropriate response is taken to illegal activities.

After a minor is taken into custody, a detention hearing must be held in juvenile court to determine whether the child can be released into the custody of a parent or guardian or whether they should continue being held in detention. Unlike in adult criminal cases, bail will not be set, and a defendant will not need to pay a bond before they can be released. However, a judge may impose certain requirements that are similar to bond conditions.