Getting arrested and being held is a stressful experience for anyone regardless of the situation and for most, the first and prominent thing on their mind will be how to get out and quickly. While some things may be out of your control such as how long booking takes, other aspects may go quicker with a little bit of prep work and research. Here are some of the things you or a loved one can do to help the process move along so you can get out as quickly as possible.
Gather all the necessary information
When contacting a bail bondsman, they are going to need a few pieces of information to get started. Some information is easy such as basic contact information like name, phone number, and address while other information may need to be looked into such as where the defendant is being held, what is their booking number as well as information regarding the arrest and any prior criminal charges. In addition to this, they will also need to know the cost of the bond in order to begin the process of an application.
Work with a bail bondsman near the jail and one with wide availability
It is incredibly beneficial to work with a bail bondsman who is located in close proximity to the jail where the defendant is being held. This is because, in order to be released, the bail bondsman will need to physically come to the court to submit the paperwork. If you go with a bail bondsman that is far away, you not only have to wait on the time it takes for the paperwork to get processed, but also whatever amount of travel time it takes for the bail bondsman to get down there. Most bail bond agencies position their location to be near holding facilities just to help make it quicker and easier for their clients. It is also helpful to work with an agency that is open 24/7. This is typically the industry standard, and while the desks where paperwork is submitted may hold more standard hours, if the bond agency is open 24/7, they can get started working on the paperwork from their end right away to save time once the bond has officially been set.
Have an indemnitor lined up if need be
If you know that you are going to need and co-signer, it is best to figure out who you want and get everything arranged as soon as possible. This will be to your benefit for two reasons. The first is that you will have extra insurance to the bondsman that you will be able to show to your court dates and pay the premium but also the indemnitor can work as your advocate through the process while you are still detained. Certain paperwork will need to be submitted such as id and income information that the co-signer can submit on your behalf to make the paperwork and checks go faster.
In the end, the true timeline in how quickly you can get out will depend on when you are able to be seen by a judge to set a bond, this however does not mean that there is no value in getting everything set and situated so that the rest of the process is smooth and efficient once that bond has been set. Doing this will ensure a lot less waiting around once it’s go time.
