The last place anyone wants to find themselves is in a jail cell. And if you\u2019re unlucky enough arrive in one your first concern is getting out as quickly as possible. But how? First you will need to be \u201cbooked,\u201d or processed into police custody. Then you may have to post \u201cbail,\u201d a set amount of money you pay in exchange for your release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article provides an overview of the booking procedure and the bail and bonds process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Does Booking Mean?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re placed under arrest, normally you will be taken into police custody and booked, or processed. During booking, officers will generally:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve been arrested for a minor offense, you might be given a written citation and released<\/a>, after signing the citation and promising to appear in court at a later date. If not, you will go through the bail and bond procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arraignment and Own Recognizance Release<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After booking, the next step is the arraignment, where you will be read the formal charges and be given an opportunity to arrange for your release. The main concern authorities have is that you show up for your future court dates. In certain cases, you may be eligible to be released on your own recognizance.<\/a> This means you promise in writing to appear in court later on. A judge deciding whether to grant own recognizance release normally considers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are released on your own recognizance and fail to appear for your court date as scheduled, a warrant may be issued for your arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is Bail?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In some cases, a written promise to appear in court isn\u2019t enough, and the court will want a financial guarantee that you will appear in court. Bail is a process by which you pay a set amount of money to obtain your release from police custody<\/a>. As part of your release, you promise to appear in court for all of your scheduled criminal proceedings. If you show up to court as promised, the bail amount will be returned. If not, you will be subject to arrest and you will forfeit the bail amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bail proceedings can vary from court to court, but generally the court will have a bail hearing to decide whether to grant bail (in extreme cases a court can deny your release altogether) and, if so, what amount is appropriate. The court will have a bail hearing<\/a>, during which it will consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with the monetary bail determination, the court could also impose restrictions on your release like limiting your travel, enforcing a curfew, revoking gun ownership privileges, or requiring drug, alcohol, medical, or psychological testing or treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Posting Bail and Bail Bond Agents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once a court has set the amount of your bail, that amount, or a specified percentage, must be posted, or paid to the court. Generally you can pay in cash or an approved cash substitute, such as a money order or cashier\u2019s check. Once you\u2019ve posted bail, the court will issue a document or an order that shows you may be released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t afford to post your own bail, you can contract a commercial bail bond agent (or bail bondsman) to pay and ensure bond. A bond agent will<\/a> charge a nonrefundable fee, usually 10 to 20 percent of the total bail. In return, the bail bond agent agrees to pay the remaining amount to the court if you fail to appear for your court proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More Questions About Bail and Bonds? Contact a Lawyer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Finding yourself in jail and needing a bail and bond can be a scary experience. Posting bail, being released on your own recognizance, finding a bail bonds agent \u2014 the sheer amount of issues you will have to deal with can be overwhelming. If you\u2019ve been arrested, you should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney<\/a> in your area to discuss your specific situation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"