If you or a loved one has never been arrested, when it happens, it can be scary and confusing, whether you’ve been arrested for a serious crime or a minor infraction. Here are some basics on what happens when you’ve been arrested and how to get out of jail.
Category: Bail Bonds
What is a Bail Enforcement Agent?
Formerly referred to as “Bounty Hunters”, bail enforcement agents are licensed professionals who work with bail bondsmen to recover a defendant who has failed to show up at scheduled court dates and may or may not have skipped town. Often, bail bondsmen are bail enforcement agents and track down the defendant for themselves.
Bad Bail Bonds Agents
In February of this year, the New Orleans State Insurance Commissioner claimed that local bail bond agents had been regularly charging their clients a 13% premium on bonds issued, 1% higher than the 12% state-mandated limit which could result in refunds from the companies who have been overcharging for years to their clients.
Which is Better: Cash Bond or Bail Bond?
If you or a loved one has been arrested, there are some decisions that will have to be made, one of which is the type of bail to pay. You may be released on your own recognizance depending on the crime, your criminal history, community ties, and other factors that lead the court to believe that you will show up at your court dates to face the consequences of your actions.
Federal Court Bail Bonds
Bonds for federal court are Signature Bonds (unsecured bonds) usually signed by a responsible 3rd party (co-signed). A Property Bond is also used in federal court. This is a bond that is secured by property, usually in the form of real estate. It requires a recent appraisal of the property along with a current lot book report from a title company and notarized documents must be filed with the county recorder’s office.
What is an Immigration Bond?
If a friend or loved one has been arrested by ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, it doesn’t mean they’ll automatically be deported. There is help. If someone is undocumented, they still have rights and they most likely will be able to post a bond like everyone else and be released. As with any arrest,…
What Not To Do When You’re Out on Bail
If you’re lucky enough to be awarded bail and have the means to pay it, you’ll want to make sure you do everything right because if you don’t, you could be sent to jail until your trial. This is the intention of bail―to ensure that you’ll show up for trial and abide by the rules in the meantime.
Was Your Arrest Lawful?
When making an arrest, police officers need to follow the rules of the law. If they do not, the arrest is not legal and it puts the entire case into question. How do you know if your arrest was legal or not?
Everything You Need to Know About Restraining Orders
You may have heard of restraining orders but do you know what they are and how they work? A restraining order is a court order designed to protect someone from harassment or danger from another person by keeping that person at a safe distance away or risk being arrested. They are often taken out by victims of abuse who fear their abuser.
How to Find a Defense Attorney
Unless you’ve been arrested before, you probably don’t have a lawyer, at least not a criminal defense attorney. If you’re arrested for a crime, where do you begin? The Yellow Pages? A little bird? The guy in the cell next to you? Usually, finding a defense attorney is something you don’t think of until you’re arrested for a crime. So where do you look?