Learning that a family member has been arrested is an incredibly stressful experience and it can be hard to know how to react. You will have a lot of questions and your first instinct will be to rush and start panicking.
However, it is very important that you remain calm. There are systems in place to help you help them. By going through the following steps, you can ensure that they have the best possible chance of a swift release and move onto the next stages smoothly. If you get the call from a family member telling you that they have been arrested, here’s what you need to do.
You Need To Stay Calm
Remember that your family member needs your support at this moment in time and you are not going to help them by panicking. What they need to hear from you at this point is reassurance that things are going to be OK and that you are in their corner. Whatever anxiety or worry you are feeling, don’t let it get the better of you and don’t let it make things scarier for them.
Remind them that they should ask for an attorney, and that they are within their rights to remain silent if they choose to do so.
Find Out Where They Are Being Held And What Their Arrest Number Is
Once you have reassured your family member that you are going to do everything you can to get them out as quickly as possible, it’s very important that you find out where they are being held exactly.
You should also ask for their arrest number, as this will speed things up a lot when you bring in an attorney or bail bond agent later. The chances are that your family member may not have that information, so ask to speak to either the arresting officer or someone at the station.
Call A Bond Agent
In case you have never been in this situation before, a bail bond is a guarantee that the person in question will appear in court. If the defendant does not appear as they have been directed, then the bond is forfeited, and the money is lost. The price of bail will vary depending on the crime, and when you hire a bond agent you will pay a 10% premium which is their fee. The reason why hiring a bond agent is so important is that they have experience in this area, and they can move quickly to get your family member out of jail as soon as possible.
When you call the bail bond agent, you need to provide the arrested family member’s name, date of birth, location and arrest number if you were able to secure it. Your agent will find out where your family member is in the booking process, and they will contact you once the conditions of bail have been set.
As you can tell, you need to make sure that you can trust your bail bond agent which is why it’s so important to go with an agency that offers you experience, dependability and great communication. An experienced bail bonds agency like E Parker Bail Bonds knows just how upsetting and difficult this time can be which is why they will always go the extra mile.
Contact An Attorney
Once you know that the bond situation is being taken care of, it is time to think about what you want to do about the attorney situation. A public defender is always an option but for greater peace of mind, you may want to hire your own.
The reason why a lot of people choose to pay for an attorney is that you may be paying for a greater level of expertise, and you are paying for a guarantee of their time and attention spent on the case. You also know that any losses reflect badly on them and their firm, which gives them an added incentive. If you have an attorney that you have used before and feel comfortable with, you should call them as soon as possible so that they can get up to speed and start working for you.
Be There For Them
Hiring a bail bond agency and an attorney means that a lot of the detailed work is being handled by professionals. What is going to be really important in the hours and days following a family member’s arrest is that you continue to be there for them and support them.
Being arrested is a huge shock to the system and there may be a lot of uncertainty surrounding any potential trial and its outcome. It is important to consider the impact that this may have on their mental health, and to use available resources to support them. Finally, remind them that you aren’t going anywhere and that you are all working for them to get them through this.