Far too many people have felt the dread that comes along with knowing that their friend or relative has been arrested. It oftentimes seems as if we’re powerless to help them since they’re sitting in a jail cell under the county’s jurisdiction. Fortunately, there are ways that we can be of assistance to our friends or loved ones if they are sitting in jail; it just requires a bit of research.
Information About an Inmate Available
First of all, it’s important to get as much information as possible about someone who has been arrested. Luckily, much of the information that ends up being vital is available as public record. Once a person is booked into jail, their name and the crime that they’re charged with, along with the date that they were booked usually becomes available. In fact, in California, it’s even easy to find out a presumed bail amount.
All of these things are important if you want to help a person get out of jail more quickly. Whether the defendant has been arrested in southern, northern or central California, our website provides you with a direct connection to the county jail inmate search – or you can fill out an information form (to the right of this article) and, once submitted, Bail Hotline will contact you!
Are They Really in Jail?
There are some times when a person may not know whether their loved one is actually in jail or not – maybe they didn’t show up to a party, maybe they haven’t been answering their phone. Regardless of the reason which sparked your curiosity, you can find out if your friend or relative has been detained by calling the county jail. If, by some chance, your friend or family member is in custody, a jail employee should be able to provide the aforementioned pieces of vital information.
Visitation Concerns
Some of the other questions you may have will usually be answered differently, depending on the specific jail location. Here are just a few you might want to know:
- What are the visitation hours?
- How can I get a Property Release to pick up items from an inmate?
- Can I supply money for them to use at a commissary?
- What restrictions, if any, are placed on the visiting party?
- Are children allowed to accompany me on my visit?
- What kinds of identification are necessary if I am visiting someone in jail?
Inmate Questions
Unfortunately, some inmates will have to do a little legwork on their own. Luckily, the justice system requires that a person be allowed to make a phone call after being arrested. The rules related to these laws, however, can vary by state. In California, for instance, an arrested individual must be allowed to make at least three phone calls within three hours of their initial arrest – and can many times be made as soon as a person has been booked into jail if they are polite and cooperative.
California law states that the allowed phone calls may be to an attorney (or public defender), a bail bond agency or a relative or other person; this basically means that a defendant can call whomever they want. Many people make their first call to a bail bond agency since that will quickly get the ball rolling for them getting bailed out.
It’s disheartening to have a loved one sitting in county jail, but luckily, in most cases, it’s not necessary for them to stay there very long. America’s criminal justice system is set up in such a way that most accused individuals are able to secure release if they go through the proper channels. Whether these steps are completed by the defendant themselves or a loved one on the outside, it’s simply important that they be performed.
