If you get locked up, the only way to get out before your trial is through pre-trial realease or a bail bond. If you need to get bailed out, the following steps will help you get out as quickly as possible.

Show Ads

[edit] Steps

Never cause a problem for the police or booking staff involved with your arrest or booking. Often times, you will need their help in accessing the phone, getting bail bond numbers, etc.
Find a telephone as quickly as possible. You should have a hierarchy of people to call. Usually, you will be required to call collect. Bail is expensive, and often credit worthiness plays a part. The person bailing you out (friend or family) will be promising to pay your entire bail if you fail to appear.
Make sure you understand the bail process. It is an insurance policy that promises the state reimbursement if the defendant (you) don't go to court. This is quite often tens of thousands of dollars, and collateral may be needed.
If you cannot find someone to post your bail, you may be stuck. However, you will get a bail review, usually within 24 hours. At that time, you have an opportunity to convince a judge to lower or eliminate the bail. They are looking for certain things when they make this determination. If you can get an attorney to show up for the bail review, do it. The judge normally looks at the following:
- Are you local? It's easier to show up for court when you're a local.
- Do you have a history of failing to appear for court? This will ensure a high or no bail.
- Did you get charged with a serious offense? Serious offenses have higher penalties, increasing the chance that a person will flee to avoid jail.
- Are you employed? Unemployed people are generally less reliable and have loose connections to the community, making it easier to pick up and leave.
- Do you have family obligations? The courts don't want you to lose your job when you've got a family to feed.
If you cannot arrange for bail, and the judge does not lower or remove it, you may try signing off on the bail with a couple of close friends or relatives.

[edit] Tips

Don't commit crimes. However, it is a normal occurrence for decent people to get in trouble and need a bail bond. Call your most trusted and respectable friend or relative and promise them you will pay them back (and do it)! If you have credit cards on you, you may be able to call a bondsman directly and pay your own bail. If you need to call a bondsman collect, and the phone asks you to state your name to be played to the other party, don't say "this is Bob," or "help!" Say "I have a credit card!" They will usually accept charges. They get a lot of bogus collect calls and while the bondsman will in theory accept collect calls, you need to give them a reason.