Being arrested, taken into police custody, and booked into jail can be a scary, stressful experience. Those who are not familiar with the procedures followed in these cases may be unsure about their options, including the requirements they will need to meet to get released from custody. In many cases, those who have been arrested will need to post bail before being released.

After an arrest, you will want to act quickly to pay the amount of bail set by a judge and secure your release. By getting out of jail as soon as possible, you can avoid issues such as:

If you are arrested and charged with a crime, you will usually be required to post bail, which will allow you to be released from custody while awaiting trial. While this will let you return to your normal life, you should be aware that you may face restrictions on what you can do or where you can go. If you violate these restrictions, you could be taken back into custody, and these violations could also affect your criminal case. To prevent these types of consequences, you should be sure to avoid the following:

1. Using drugs or alcohol - The conditions of bail may state that you are prohibited from consuming alcohol or using drugs, especially if you were arrested for DWI or drug charges. In some cases, you may be required to take random drug tests. To avoid potential violations of these conditions, it is best to avoid the use of these substances altogether.

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Anyone who is arrested and charged with a crime will want to understand how they can get out of jail as quickly as possible. However, the procedures followed when posting bail may be different depending on the crimes with which a person is charged. For misdemeanors and low-level offenses, a judge will often set smaller amounts of bail, or a person may even be released on a personal bond. Since felony charges are more serious, bail will often be set at higher amounts, and other restrictions may be placed on a person before he or she can be released. Fortunately, no matter the offense, a person can usually obtain a bail bond that will allow him or her to get out of jail and get back to normal life while determining how to defend against the criminal charges he or she is facing.

Felony Offenses

The Texas Penal Code defines a wide variety of criminal offenses that are considered felonies. These are serious crimes, and a conviction can result in a prison sentence of at least one year. Felonies are grouped into different “degrees,” and higher-degree felonies will carry more serious consequences. Because of this, a person charged with a felony will usually be required to pay higher amounts of bail before they can be released.

Usually, New Year’s Eve is a holiday that involves having parties with friends or family members, either at someone’s home or at a public location such as a restaurant, bar, or nightclub. Things may be somewhat different this year since the risks of COVID-19 infections will likely lead to fewer people meeting with others or attending public gatherings. However, the holiday is still likely to be a busy one, and police officers will be on the lookout for potential criminal activity. As you ring in the new year, you will want to be aware of the criminal offenses that are likely to lead to an arrest. You will also want to understand how you can post bail and secure a release for yourself or a friend or family member if you are arrested.

Some of the most common reasons for arrests over New Year’s include:

Most people have a basic knowledge of what happens when a person is arrested by police officers, if only because they have seen many arrests performed on TV shows and in the movies. However, the actual procedures followed are not always the same as what we see on the screen, and people may not be aware of what happens after a person is taken to a police station or jail. By understanding the process of an arrest, you can be prepared to respond if this happens to you or your loved one, and you can take the right steps to get out of jail quickly by posting bail.

Steps Followed After an Arrest

In most cases, police officers may perform an arrest because they have probable cause to believe that someone committed a crime. This may occur during a traffic stop if an officer believes that a person has been driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs or in other situations where a person is suspected of criminal activity. In some cases, a person may be arrested after an arrest warrant is issued based on reports of a crime. An arrest in Texas will usually involve the following process:

Being arrested and taken to jail can be a difficult situation to deal with at any time of the year, but it can be especially worrisome during the holiday season. During this time, alcohol consumption often increases due to holiday gatherings and parties, and this may lead to arrests for DWI. Arrests may also occur because of unpaid traffic tickets, accusations of family violence, shoplifting, or other forms of theft at busy stores, or allegations of other serious misdemeanor or felony offenses. 

Those who are arrested may be concerned about whether courts will be closed during the holidays or if personnel will be available to ensure that they can post bail and get out of jail. Fortunately, Doc’s Bail Bonds is available 24/7/365 to address your needs. Whether you are currently in prison, or you are looking to help a friend or family member post bail and get released, we can provide help over the phone or through email, or we can meet you at any jail or courthouse in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. We will make sure you follow the right procedures to get out of jail as quickly as possible, ensuring that you will not miss any important time with your family and friends during the holiday season.

Being arrested can put you in a difficult financial position. The amount of bail set by a judge may be thousands of dollars, and if you are unable to pay this amount, you may feel that you have no other option but to stay in jail. Unfortunately, this can lead to more financial problems, such as the loss of your job or the inability to pay child support. As additional penalties and financial issues stack up, it can seem like you are in an impossible situation with no way out. Fortunately, a bail bond can help you get released, allowing you to return to your normal life as you determine how to deal with the charges you are facing.

At Doc’s Bail Bonds, we strive to help those who have been arrested get released from jail as easily and affordably as possible. When you use a bail bond, you will only be required to pay 10 percent of the total amount of bail set by the judge in your case. In addition to covering the amount of your bail so you can secure a release, we will make sure you meet all requirements during your proceedings, including showing up at any required court appearances in the future.

In most cases, when a person is arrested, he or she will be required to pay a certain amount of bail before he or she can be released. This amount will be set by a judge based on the specific crimes a person is charged with along with other factors, such as the risk that the person will not show up as required for future court hearings. Usually, the fastest way to get released from prison is to obtain a bail bond. However, there may be some rare situations where a person will be denied bail and required to remain in jail until his or her trial.

What Is Preventive Detention?

If a person is held in prison without being allowed to post bail and get released, this is known as preventive detention. This type of detention is usually only used in situations where a person has a criminal history and is accused of offenses that would make him or her a risk to public safety if he or she was released before trial. Texas law allows preventive detention in the following types of cases:

There are many reasons a person may be arrested and booked into one of the jails in North Texas. While some types of criminal charges, such as violent crimes or sex crimes, are very serious, others, such as shoplifting, may seem less so, since they will likely have less severe consequences. Driving while intoxicated, or DWI, falls somewhere between these two extremes, and a person who is arrested may be unsure about the procedures that will be followed and the steps they will need to take to get out of jail.

Bail Amounts for DWI Arrests

Whenever a person is arrested and charged with a crime, a judge will set certain conditions to determine whether the defendant can be released. In some cases, a person may be “released on his or her own recognizance,” and the accused will agree to show up in court on a specified date without being required to pay any money. However, in most DWI cases, a judge will set an amount of bail that must be paid before a person can be released.

Have you recently received word that a loved one has been arrested on criminal charges? If so, you are likely wondering what, if anything, you can and should do next. Depending on the situation, you might have heard that your loved one needs to come up with bail money or obtain a bail bond. In everyday conversation, the terms “bail” and “bond” are used interchangeably, but the two are not exactly the same. There are several important differences that you should understand before you take any steps to get your loved one out of jail. The good news is that our team is here to help.

Understanding Bail

When a criminal suspect is arrested, he or she will be brought before a judge for a preliminary hearing, and dates will be set for future hearings, including trial. In many cases, trial dates may be set for many weeks or months after the initial arrest. During the preliminary hearing—or in a separate bail hearing, if needed—the judge will consider the circumstances of the situation and determine if collateral is necessary to ensure that the suspect appears as required for future proceedings. This collateral is known as bail, and it is usually set in dollar amounts.
If the judge determines that bail is necessary, the amount will be set based on a number of factors, including the severity of the alleged criminal offense, the risk that the suspect will flee the area, and the danger that the suspect may present to the community at large. Many jurisdictions use a fairly standardized system for setting bail amounts, but ultimately, the decision is up to the judge. Some cases may involve bail of a few hundred dollars, while others may see bail set at hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. There are situations in which the judge may refuse to set a bail amount and require that the suspect remains in jail until trial. Such decisions are typically reserved for the most serious alleged crimes and repeat violent offenders.
It is important to keep in mind that if the defendant appears as ordered at all of the required proceedings, he or she is entitled to a refund of the bail that was paid, regardless of the outcome of the case. Fees and fines may be applied, which can reduce the refunded amount, but even a suspect who is found guilty can be reimbursed for his or her bail.

Anyone who is arrested will want to make sure they take the right steps to get out of jail as soon as possible. This is especially true during the COVID-19 crisis, since those who are being held in a jail, detention facility, or police department are often kept close together with other inmates in a small space, increasing the risks of infection. Even when surfaces are sanitized, prisoners are provided with masks, and measures are taken to maintain social distancing, inmates are likely to become infected, and as a result, the coronavirus has spread quickly throughout jails in Texas.

To secure a quick release, those who have been arrested will want to post bail right away. Unfortunately, the bail bonds process can be complex and confusing even at the best of times. For some people, getting out of jail might be even more difficult during the coronavirus pandemic due to orders put in place by Texas’ governor and other requirements that must be met.

If you have watched any crime TV shows or read flashy headlines on the cover of celebrity magazines, you have likely seen astronomical bail amounts, ranging from thousands to millions of dollars. Depending on the alleged crime that the arrested party is facing, this number can greatly shift. In some cases, bail may not even be an option for the alleged criminal. The purpose of these high costs is to keep these individuals facing criminal charges from fleeing the instant that they are released from confinement. For those facing an extremely high bail amount and who are unable to afford the cost, assistance from a bail bonds agent is a valid possibility. Some defendants may think they are in the clear once the money is transferred, not realizing the various other terms that may come along with posting bail.

Pretrial Check-Ins

In a similar manner as probation, some individuals on bail will be required to meet with a pretrial service officer on a regular basis. This is done to ensure that the bailed-out party is abiding by the court’s bail orders or conditions. These periodic meetings will also help monitor the whereabouts of the charged party.

If you, a friend, or a relative are arrested, a bail bond can be very helpful. To understand what a bail bond is and why you might benefit from one, it is important to know how the booking process works when accused of a crime. Depending on the crime, certain offenders are eligible to post bail in Texas, which allows them to get out of jail and return to their home while they await a court date. If it comes time to pay for a bail bond to get yourself or someone close to you out of jail, it is imperative that you work with an experienced, licensed bail bonds issuer to help alleviate your stress and develop a plan of action.

The Booking Process

If you are arrested and taken to jail, you typically have to wait there for several hours before being given a court date. In court, you will present your defense with your attorney. At this moment, as the accused, you have two options: You can either stay in jail until your court date, or you can post bail. Bail is an amount of money that can be paid in cash and is determined by the severity of the charges and whether or not this is your first criminal offense. For example, if you have to post a bail of $5,000, a cash payment of that value will ensure that you are released until your scheduled court date. Whoever pays this amount will receive his or her money back if you, the defendant, attends all of your scheduled court dates.