If you are arrested, you probably have one big question: "How do I get out of jail as soon as possible?" There are a few different ways you might be released, but odds are it won't be free.
After being arrested, booking and processing happens at the local police station. You'll be fingerprinted and background and warrant checks will be run. After a weapons search, your belongings are retained and catalogued. Then you're put in a cell. You might get to make phone calls right away, or you may have to wait. Be prepared for this to take a while.
After booking, a few different things can happen:
1. You may be released without being charged.
2. You may be released on your Own Recognizance (OR)
3. You might get a Citation Release (or cite out)
OR
4. You'll be arraigned (a formal reading of the charges being pressed) and bail will be set.
Options one through three are your "get out of jail free" cards. The first is the best case scenario - you're free to go because no charges are being pressed. The second, Own Recognizance (aka OR), is used sometimes for lesser crimes. You are released with a written promise to appear at the trial. The third, Citation Release, is when you're given a citation, or ticket, to appear in court on a given date. This is typically for traffic violations.
If formal charges are brought and bail is set, getting out of jail isn't cheap. The bail system is a way to guarantee that you will show up for your court date. Bail amounts depend on the crime. You can cover the required amount in one of three ways.
1. Cash (most jails don't accept credit cards or checks). The money is held until you appear in court. After the trial, the entire amount is refunded to the person who paid it, possibly less some processing fees.
2. Property Bond. Real estate is used as collateral instead of cash, but equity in the property must be at least 150% of the bail amount. This process is like buying a house. It can take weeks, and you are in jail the entire time. If you don't attend the trial, the court will foreclose on the property.
3. Bail bonds. You, or your friend, family member or attorney, may call on a bail bondsman to get help covering the full amount. The bondsman will usually require certain personal information about you, your history and the charges being pressed against you in order to assess the risk involved - they want to know if you're likely to skip town before the trial. If they think you'll show, the company will require a non-refundable up-front fee that is a percentage of the full bail amount. (The percentage is mandated by state law.) If the bondsman suspects you're a risk, you (or whoever is putting up the money) will have to provide collateral of some kind in addition to the fee. Paperwork can often be handled by fax or email. Then, the bondsman will go to the jail and post bail on your behalf. Lucky you -- you can potentially be out of jail in just a few hours.
Once bail has been posted, you will be released until your court date. Keep in mind that anyone who pays your bail is responsible to make sure you show up for the trial, and bail bond companies take this very seriously.
In Miami, Florida, if you're looking for an experienced bail bondsman, call on Blandon Bail Bonds. Their family owned operation offers the lowest legal rates, and has bilingual agents available to assist you 24/7. They specialize in South Florida but can place bail bonds nationwide. Powered by SEO 2.0 Services
