What To Do When Someone Gets Arrested
You are sound asleep, when all of a sudden, the phone rings. You answer, and when you find out a friend or family member has been arrested, everything changes. No one expects this call, and so most people aren’t prepared with a plan for how to handle this difficult situation. Since an arrest can induce fear, anger and disorientation, it’s best to have a game plan, so that if it ever happens, you will be ready and able to help. The question is, what to do when someone gets arrested?
If you receive a call like this, the first thing you need to do is gather information. Find out where your friend is being held, what the charges are and the name of the arresting officers. If it’s a police officer who has called, ask what is to happen next. If it is your friend who calls, rather than the police, advise him not to recount what happened on the phone, as it may be recorded. In general, your advice to your friend should be not to say anything until his lawyer arrives. Anything said can be used to incriminate him.
Next, you should advise your friend that, while alcohol screening tests are standard, he probably shouldn’t agree to any other tests until he has his lawyer present.
Another thing you can do when someone is arrested is posting bond. Bond is the set amount of money paid to guarantee that your friend, the defendant, will appear in court when required to answer to the charges that have been made against him. Sometimes bond is set right away, and sometimes there is a delay.
Once you know what amount the bail is set at, you can help your friend by trying to gather that money so that he may be released from jail until his trial. If, however, you and your friend cannot afford bail, you can hire a bail agent. The bail agent is paid a non-refundable fee—usually 10% of the bail amount. They may also require collateral—a car, home mortgage, jewelry etc.—to ensure to the bail bondsman that the debt will be paid.
At this point, the bail agent takes responsibility for the full amount of the bail.
Most bail agents are available 24/7—so don’t be afraid to call at night. When you call, be sure you have the following information available:
1. The full name of your friend who has been arrested
2. The name of the jail they are in
3. Their booking number
4. The charges
Along with all of this, one of the most important tasks is calling a lawyer to represent your friend. You can call an attorney you may know or one who has a strong reputation for handling criminal defense cases. You need to find an attorney who can meet your friend where they have been taken, protect their rights and take charge of their case as soon as possible.
No one wants to receive a call like this about a friend or relative, but it can happen. If it does, you will now know what to do when someone is arrested and it’s comforting to know that you are aware of the proper way to handle whatever lies ahead.
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About Stuart N. Kaplan, P.A.
Stuart N. Kaplan, P.A. represents those charged with a crime. Headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, they have helped many defend their criminal cases. For more information on Stuart N. Kaplan, P.A. visit http://www.ksplaw.com/
March 9th, 2016
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