You Can Listen to This Article Here  |
What To Do If You Get Arrested
Being arrested is no laughing matter. Whether you are guilty of the crime you have been arrested for, how you behave is important, and what you say and do when you are under arrest may affect your case. The last thing you will want to do is say or do anything that will go against you in a court of law.
In this post, we’ll talk you through a few things you need to know about when you get arrested.
You Have The Right To Remain Silent
One of the first things that you will be told when you are arrested is that you have the right to remain silent. It is often in your best interest to offer up as little information as possible, at least until you have had the chance to speak with your criminal attorney. Although you may not be interviewed immediately following your arrest, anything you do say may well be used against you in court.
Comply With The Investigation 
While you may disagree with your current situation, there is absolutely no value in resisting arrest or meeting force with more force. Remain compliant with the arresting officers, and you’ll find the process to be less stressful.
Get in touch with your lawyer for a free legal consultation with a criminal defense attorney. Having your attorney with you will help you understand what you should and shouldn’t answer when questioned.
The Bail Hearing
You may have been given a chance to have a bail hearing. During this hearing, a judge or a magistrate will look into the charges you are up against and decide whether you should be let out on bail. If possible, you will want your lawyer to be present for this hearing.
At this hearing, it will be decided whether you are allowed to get released from jail. There will be several different factors that will go into making this decision.
Firstly, your prior criminal record may be taken into account. The judge will want to know whether you are a flight risk or not. They may consider other aspects of your character, such as your family connections, the amount of time you have lived in your current address, your standing within the community, your financial means, and your health.
In addition to the personal circumstances that affect your right to be granted bail, bail wil also depend on the type of crime you have allegedly committed. The judge will want to know whether you are in any way, a danger to the community. The judge will also want to take into account any mitigating or aggravating circumstances.
Following your hearing, you may be granted bail. You may be required to pay a surety to ensure you turn up for your trial in this case.
If you don’t have the means of paying your bail yourself, you can get help from a bail bondsman.
You may be required to put up collateral such as your home, car, or even cash. There may be a 10% charge on the amount that you need to pay in bonds. In all, this can be an expensive way of paying your bail.
