Getting arrested is a nerve-racking experience for anyone that has to go through it. The first thing on most people’s minds after their arrest is, “When am I going to get out?” Luckily for many, getting out of jail is not too hard of a task to accomplish. The United States Constitution guarantees a person’s right to a non-excessive bail amount, and this guarantee ensures that most people have the chance to get out of jail quickly. Knowing how the system works is where your bail agent comes in – with the ability to get you released within a matter of hours instead of days.
After Being Detained
The first thing a person charged with a crime will go through is being arrested. In many cases, this can be the most distressful part of the entire case. Police will escort an accused person to central booking where they will be fingerprinted, have their photograph taken and be put into a holding cell. A person is usually allowed a phone call after being booked into jail. This call can be to anyone, but there are only a few people that should be contacted if a person is trying to get out of jail quickly.
Who to Call for Bail
In most instances, crimes have a set bail amount, which is listed on each county’s bail schedule. This is a set total for anyone who commits a particular crime. These bail amounts are probably going to seem excessive, mostly due to the fact that America has some of the highest bail amounts in the world. A person can always call their family and hope that they have the amount needed for bail, but this is highly unlikely on such short notice. This usually leads the accused to contact a bail bondsman. These bail agents only require a fee equal to ten percent of the bail schedule amount for posting a surety bond for your release.
Getting Bonded Out
Most legitimate bail agents will visit their clients in jail, free of charge, to discuss their release. Many people believe that they must pay a bail bondsman’s entire fee up front, but this is not the case. Most agents allow zero down payments and long term payment plans, and this gives just about everybody the chance to get out of jail quickly. In situations where agents don’t take an upfront payment, it may be necessary to provide some type of collateral, but the pledged property will never be in any danger as long as the accused makes their court dates.
The facial expressions on thousands of mug shots show the level of worry a person feels when they are initially arrested. The best thing any person should do in this situation is to try to remain calm. In all likelihood, a set amount exists on the bail schedule for their charge that will allow bail to be posted. Luckily, in most situations, the legal system is set up to get people home as quickly as possible – the jails are usually overcrowded, and this will generally increase the chances of a faster release.
