While television crime shows make it look like a criminal will immediately go to jail, the process of trying a criminal case is much more complicated. From arrest and posting bail to going to trial and sentencing, there are many legal procedures that the accused will have to go through.

Below is a guide to the stages of a criminal case:

Arrest and booking:
Whether they are taken by force or voluntarily, anyone who is under police custody is arrested and brought into jail. While the accused is booked or cited, a pretrial or probation officer will gather information about the alleged crime. This information will be used by a judge to decide if the accused can be allowed out of custody before the trial by posting bail and agreeing to appear at a set date.

Arraignment:
A judge will read the official charges against the accused as well as their rights to an attorney. During arraignment, bail may be changed or the accused may be released on their “own recognizance.” Arraignment is also the time when the accused enters their plea of guilty or not guilty. If he or she agrees to a plea bargain, then the charges may be lessened or dropped for an admission of guilt. If the accused maintains their innocence, then they may be taken to trial.

Motions, Hearings, and Trial:
Both the prosecution and the defense will hold a series of motions and hearings that will determine which evidence and witnesses will be allowed in court. At trial, the prosecution will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused has committed the crime they are being held for. A judge or a jury will make the final decision.

Sentencing:
If the jury or the judge finds the accused to be guilty, then sentencing will occur. Depending on the crime, prior criminal record, and a person’s living condition, the court will determine a suitable sentence. Sentences can include jail time, the payment of fines, or even counseling and community service.

If a judge allows the accused to post bail, then they will be granted freedom as long as they agree to appear in court when told.

Bail can be paid in cash or with a cashier’s check, but if you cannot afford bail on your own, then Bail Hotline can help. With over 20 locations in California, we can help you or a loved one get a bail bond in your time of need—24/7. For more information 888-GET BAIL or contact us now.

Do you know what the difference is between bail and a bond? A lot of people don’t. Most people think that bails and bonds are the same because they are always being talked about or written about together… so, “aren’t the terms interchangeable?”

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Inmates at the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail are not the only ones itching to get out. There are many jail deputies who do not enjoy their time working inside the LA County lockups. Officials for the Sheriff’s Department are hoping that proposed changes, which will speed up promotions, will get deputies more enthusiastic about their time inside the jails.

As of now, deputies have to go on street patrol in order to become supervisors. The new plan will allow deputies to move up in rank while staying on duty in county jails. Sheriff Lee Baca hopes that the two-track career system will allow for a core of experienced jailers who actually want to work in the corrections system.

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We know getting arrested is a shocking experience. It’s terrifying and even embarrassing. One could be searching Bail Bonds process in that difficult time might be confused about on which Bail Bond, he or she can rely. You can rely on Bail Hotline Bail Bonds to get you through the bail process, emotionally and financially. Bail Hotline Bail Bonds can guide you step-by-step to overcome the confusing jail system.

Bail Hotline Bail Bonds is a reputed, family-owned business that has provided bail bonds by the California State with a long time. With the strategic network of Bail Hotline Bail Bonds agents and our superior technology, we can immediately service all jails in California. Bail Hotline Bail Bonds provides fast and confidential bail bonding services for persons throughout the State 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Our agents are licensed and experienced professionals who understand the tremendous stress and emotional difficulty faced when trying to arrange bail for a friend or loved one.

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Bailing someone out of jail isn’t particularly difficult. There are some who would even go as far as to say that it was incredibly easy, but that really depends on a number of different factors. The best thing you can do when you want to bail someone out of jail is to talk to a reliable bail bond agency with a good reputation for excellent customer service. The big point is that you should think carefully before you do business with any bail bond agency. Ask yourself whether you would be doing business with them no matter what your emotional state, and then maybe you’ll learn whether you should be working with a particular agency. If you think of Bail Hotline Bail Bonds, your troubles will almost completely go away, because they’ll be able to handle most of the issues that may occur in the bail bonds process. There are a huge number of advantages to taking your time when you are choosing your bail bond agency, so many that we can’t possibly talk about them here.

Once you’ve chosen Bail Hotline Bail Bonds, the rest is extremely simple. You’ll have to give them a few details, they provides flexible payment plans that enables you to get your friend or loved one out fast and provide you with affordable rates. Their Payment options are available to individuals that can’t pay the full premium amount for posting the bond. They discuss your individual needs and can tailor a specific payment plan to meet them. What also sets them apart from their bail bond companies, is their ability to offer Zero Down payment plans.

In case of collateral, they take this into consideration on a case-by-case basis, but Bail Hotline Bail Bonds’ main goal is to provide their clients with a solution that is comfortable to their own needs and situation.