When someone you love is in trouble, it can be a very scary experience and all you want to do is help take control and make it better. While in the scenario of an arrest, you may not have a lot of control over the situation, there are still things you can do from your end to help them get out of jail as quickly as possible. Here is what you need to know.
Gather essential information
Whether talking to a lawyer, the courts, or bail bondsman, there are some key pieces of information that will be requested to get the ball rolling. They will ask for basic contact information such as name, address, and contact number in addition to what facility they are being held at and what their inmate number is. It will also be extremely helpful to know some or all of the details about the charges as well as if the loved one had any previous arrests as well.
Call a bail bondsman
Once you have this information, look for a bail bondsman that is located near the facility where your family member is being held. This will cut down on travel time which in turn will get your loved one out quickly. When you contact any bail bondsman you will need that information to get started on an application but will also most likely need the cost of the bond as well so that they can calculate the cost and risk. At that point, the bail bondsman will be able to help guide you through what needs to be done in terms of paperwork to get them released.
Think about being an indemnitor
In some cases, a bail bondsman may not be able to safely take the risk of bonding someone out. This can be due to credit rating or the risk of them not showing up but if this is the case, you may be able to sign as an indemnitor to take financial responsibility for your family member. This is a big deal however and you need to have complete and total trust that your loved one will show to court because it could cost you a significant amount of money if they flee.
Give them a ride when they get out
Most likely when all is said and done and your loved one is released, they won’t have a car or anything to get home. In order to help out, you can be there for them so that they won’t need to get a taxi or Uber and will have a ride home ready and waiting.
In the end, while there may not be much you can do to speed up the process of them going through booking or getting a bond hearing, there are still actionable steps you can take to help them get out quickly once it is go time.
