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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Most of the time, when a person is arrested, they will be able to be released after posting bail. Following an arrest, an arraignment will be held, and a judge will set an amount of bail that must be paid in order for the person to be released during their criminal case. For those who are looking to get out of jail but who may not have the resources to pay the full amount of bail, a bail bond may be the best solution. This will usually only require them to pay 10 percent of the amount of bail set by the judge. Procedures for bail and bail bonds will be followed in most criminal cases, including situations where a person is arrested based on accusations of family violence. However, there may be some cases where bail may be denied.
In many cases, when a person is arrested for family violence, a court will put an emergency order of protection in place. The court will then hold a hearing where both the alleged abuser and their alleged victim may testify or present evidence, and if necessary, a more permanent protective order may be created. These types of orders are meant to prevent any further domestic violence or abuse. An order of protection can include a number of restrictions, such as:
Being arrested and charged with a crime can be bad enough on its own, but to make matters even worse, a court is likely to require a person to pay a certain amount of money before they can get out of jail. Bail is meant to make sure a person will follow the court’s requirements, show up for future hearings or other court proceedings, and remain in the area during their criminal case. The amount of bail can be high, because a court will want to prevent a person from fleeing in order to avoid prosecution. Fortunately, bail bonds are available to help a person or their loved ones pay these amounts. Those who will be paying for a bail bond will want to understand the factors that may lead to larger amounts of bail.
When setting bail, a judge may consider a number of different factors that are relevant to a case, including:
People who have been arrested will often struggle to determine how they can get released. When a judge sets a high amount of bail, a person and their family may be unsure about how they will be able to pay this amount. While a bail bondsman can provide assistance and pay bail on behalf of a person, the cost of a bail bond is usually 10 percent of the total amount of bail. For high amounts of bail or for those who do not have significant financial resources, even coming up with 10 percent may be difficult. In some cases, people may turn to charitable organizations for help, but due to recent law changes in Texas, they may be unsure about whether this will be an option.
The Texas legislature passed a bail reform bill in 2021 that affected many people who are arrested and who are seeking a release from police custody. Originally, the bill that was proposed by the Texas Senate sought to limit the cases where bail funds or other “charitable bail organizations” could post bail on people’s behalf. However, the final version of the bill removed these restrictions, and people can generally receive assistance from these organizations when needed.
If you or someone you love have been arrested and charged with a crime, you may be unsure of what will happen next. The criminal justice system can be complicated and confusing, and in most cases, the first step a person will need to take is to determine how they can get out of jail. This is usually done by posting bail, but as you may know, new laws have been passed recently, and the rules followed when setting and paying bail have changed. Fortunately, you can get released by obtaining a bail bond. The bail agents at Doc’s Bail Bonds can explain the rules that apply to you and the procedures that will be followed in your case.
In 2021, Texas passed a new law that requires cash bail for people who have been arrested and charged with violent crimes. Judges will also be required to consider a person’s criminal history when setting bail, and even if a person is charged with a misdemeanor or a lower-level offense, they may need to pay high amounts of bail if they had previously been convicted of a violent crime. This law went into effect on December 2, 2021.
Few things can be as worrying as learning that a loved one has been arrested and may face criminal charges. In many cases, a person who is accused of committing a crime will be placed in a difficult and intimidating situation, with limited ability to contact others or determine how they can be released. A person may also need to deal with interrogations or threats that they will face serious charges if they do not cooperate with police officers. In these situations, family members will often want to help their loved one get released quickly so they can determine how to defend against criminal charges. By understanding the options for receiving a bail bond, a family member can make sure they take the correct steps to help a person get out of jail as soon as possible.
The first thing a family member will need to do is to determine where a person is being held. After being arrested, a person may be taken to a police station, or they may be booked into a local jail or detention facility. If necessary, a bail bondsman from Doc’s Bail Bonds can help perform an inmate search to locate a person and determine their current status.