Preparing for a loved one's release from jail can be challenging. Our blog post offers practical tips to help you through this transition.
How the Jail to Jobs Program Helps People Get Back on Their Feet
Posting bail for someone? Our comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions to help you through the process.
Even on a local level, bail bonds can be confusing to navigate. Most people have never had to deal with the criminal justice system in a manner that requires understanding of bail and bonds, which can lead to panic and uncertainty when bail bond services are required. That fear and confusion can be even more elevated when the charges are federal, resulting in a need for a federal bail bond instead of a state bond.
In August, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief proposing an adjustment to pre-trial bail policy for defendants who cannot afford to pay for their release. Following an arrest (but before the first hearing occurs), if an alleged offender is granted bail, said person has the option to pay a predetermined dollar amount that guarantees they will appear in court at a specified date and time. Last month’s filing claims that fixed cash bail amounts can be unfairly restrictive for people with no or little income, who the Department of Justice argues should not be denied the same opportunity for pre-hearing release as those with a greater economic advantage.
No one enjoys thinking about the possibility of facing criminal charges of any gravity, but it never hurts to be prepared for a rainy day. Should you or a loved one be arrested and land in a city or county jail, whether or not bail is granted, you will need to appear at a court hearing to determine the next steps in your case.
When someone is arrested, he or she will be taken to jail. It will be either a county jail or a city jail. There are a couple of differences between these two jails, even when they are in the same city. Here is some more information on these two types of jails.
When the Maleng Regional Justice Center opened in Kent, Washington, South King County was excited to get a jail and court facility closer to home. Driving to Seattle from the South end of King County had long been a burden for residents of cities like Auburn, Maple Valley, Covington, or Enumclaw. The reasons residents might need to go to a justice center are many, and not necessarily criminal; though they might need to go to face trial, residents also are required to make the journey for providing testimony, performing jury duty, engaging in civil trials, visiting prisoners or clients in holding, and more.
In this day and age, it’s easy to forget all about collect calls, which were pretty much the territory of payphones before they went extinct But our cellphone culture doesn’t exist inside jail, where collect calls are still the norm, and it’s important to know how that system works in case you’re ever arrested.
Unfortunately, there are many dishonest bail bondsmen in this industry. The last thing anyone needs when they suddenly find themselves in trouble is more trouble, yet fraudulent bail bondsmen do exactly that—they take advantage of the vulnerability and desperation of the accused and their loved ones for illegal financial gain.
Everyone makes mistakes. In the bail industry, we see a lot of people at their lowest point. Our goal isn't to judge you, but to help you, and one of the situations we see the most often is DUIs.
Being released on your own recognizance means that you don't have to post bail--what else does it mean?